A CORROSION CAST STUDY OF RAMIFICATION PATTERN OF PORTAL VEIN IN RIGHT LOBE OF HUMAN LIVER

Objectives: The aim of the study was to know the intrahepatic ramification pattern of portal vein in right lobe of liver & its variations. Methods: 25 human fresh livers were obtained after autopsy and studied by corrosion cast method. Polymeric granules of butyl butyrate were dissolved in acetone and 20% homogenous solution was made. Solution was injected into portal vein and the injected liver was placed in 10 % formal saline for 24 hours at room temperature (20°C) for polymerization of infused butyl butyrate solution. Maceration of liver tissue achieved by whole-organ immersion in 1.8 N KOH solution at 68°C for 24 hrs. Each cast thus obtained was preserved in glycerin and details were studied. Results: The length of the right portal vein varies 0.5 to 1.8 cm (1.2 cm). The right portal vein bifurcated into second order branches - right anterior portal vein (RAPV) & right posterior portal vein (RPPV) in 87 % of the cases, while trifurcated in rest of 13 % of cases. The angle between the anterior and posterior division ranged from 58°-95 °. Anterio-superior (P8) branch shown three type of ramification - Bifurcation type (72 %), P8- one pedicle type (8 %) and P8- trifurcation type (20%). Anterio-inferior (P5 max ) branch shown the three type of ramification pattern - P5 -common type (72 %), P5 ? P8 anterior type (28 %) but P5 ? P8 posterior type was not observed. Right Posterior Portal Vein has shown three types of ramification pattern - Type I-Fan shaped (64%),Type II (28 %) & Type III-Trifurcation type (8%). Conclusions: The findings of present study on hepatic vasculature have immense importance in the field of hepato-biliary surgeries like hepatic resection, segmentectomy and liver transplantation.