Background: Thoracic splanchnicectomy is an important surgical procedure for the management of upper abdominal pain especially in cases of chronic pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer. The pattern of the thoracic splanchnic nerves is highly variable and the outcome of the surgical procedure depends on awareness of the variant anatomy of thoracic splanchnic nerves. This study was undertaken to find out the variations in the formation, course and termination of greater splanchnic nerve in South Indian population.
Materials & Methods: Thirty five human cadavers of either sex (female- 12, male -23), between 45 and 70 years of age, embalmed by conventional method for undergraduate Anatomy classes were bilaterally dissected. Greater splanchnic nerve was studied with regard to its formation, course and termination.
Results: Greater Splanchnic nerve was present in all the specimens. In 41.4%, the highest root of origin was T6 ganglion and in 35.7% of the cases, the lowest root of origin was T9 ganglion. The greater splanchnic nerve passed through the diaphragm and terminated in celiac ganglion and partly in suprarenal gland, aortic-renal ganglia or renal plexus.
Conclusion: The authors hope that the detailed anatomy of the greater splanchnic nerve provided in the present study will be helpful for students as well as surgeons for a better outcome of the thoracic splanchnicectomy.
