Splenic vein

The splenic vein (formerly the lienal vein) is a blood vessel that drains blood from the spleen, the stomach fundus and part of the pancreas. It is part of the hepatic portal system.

Splenic vein
The splenic vein, here called the "lienal vein", travels from the spleen, above the pancreas, and ends in the portal vein.
Details
SystemHepatic portal system
Drains fromtrabecular vein of spleen
Sourceshort gastric veins, left gastroepiploic vein, pancreatic veins, inferior mesenteric vein
Drains tohepatic portal vein
Arterysplenic artery
Identifiers
Latinvena lienalis
MeSHD013162
TAA12.3.12.028
FMA14331
Anatomical terminology

Structure

The splenic vein is formed from small venules that leave the spleen. It travels above the pancreas, alongside the splenic artery. It collects branches from the stomach and pancreas, and most notably from the large intestine (also drained by the superior mesenteric vein) via the inferior mesenteric vein, which drains in the splenic vein shortly before the origin of the hepatic portal vein. The splenic vein ends in the portal vein, formed when the splenic vein joins the superior mesenteric vein.

Clinical significance

The splenic vein can be affected by thrombosis, presenting some of the characteristics of portal vein thrombosis and portal hypertension, but localized to part of the territory drained by the splenic vein. These include varices in the stomach wall due to hypertension in the short gastric veins and abdominal pain. This results in gastric varices, in which the treatment of choice would be splenectomy. The most common cause for splenic vein thrombosis is both chronic and acute pancreatitis.[1][2]

Additional images
  • Cross-section of the spleen, showing the splenic vein and its tributaries.
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References
  1. Simpson WG, Schwartz RW, Strodel WE (1990). "Splenic vein thrombosis". Southern Medical Journal. 83 (4): 417–421. doi:10.1097/00007611-199004000-00014. PMID 2181690.
  2. Butler JR, Eckert GJ, Zyromski NJ, Leonardi MJ, Lillemoe KD, Howard TJ (2011). "Natural history of pancreatitis-induced splenic vein thrombosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of its incidence and rate of gastrointestinal bleeding". HPB. 13 (12): 839–845. doi:10.1111/j.1477-2574.2011.00375.x. PMC 3244622. PMID 22081918.
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