A STUDY OF VARIANT HEPATIC ARTERIAL ANATOMY AND ITS RELEVANCE IN CURRENT SURGICAL PRACTICE

Background: With increase in the number of laparoscopic procedures, oncologic surgical interventions and organ transplant cases, anatomy and variations of hepatic arterial system have become increasingly important. Variations in these vessels may predispose the patients to inadvertent injury during open surgical procedures or percutaneous interventions. Aims: The present study is intended to contribute to the pre-existing data regarding the variations in the branching pattern of hepatic artery and throw light on their clinical implications. Methods: Extrahepatic branching pattern of hepatic arteries were studied in 40 embalmed cadavers of both sexes by dissection method. Results: Classical text book pattern of hepatic arterial anatomy was seen in 30(75%) cases and ten (25%) cases showed the presence of aberrant hepatic arteries. 12 aberrant hepatic arteries were seen in these ten cases, eight (20%) cases with single aberrant hepatic artery and two (5%) with combination of aberrant right and left hepatics. Aberrant right hepatic arteries were seen in four (10%) cases and all of them were replaced right hepatics arising directly from celiac trunk. Aberrant left hepatic arteries were seen in eight (20%) cases, of which six (15%) were accessory, two (5%) were replaced and all of them arose from the left gastric artery. Conclusion: Because of high incidence of variations in branching pattern of hepatic artery it is very important to have a thorough knowledge of these variants and identify them so as to prevent iatrogenic injuries and increase rate of success of the surgical and interventional procedures in hepatobiliary region.