Surgical anatomy of hepatic arteries from its origin to segmental branching: A 500 cases CT study

Am J Surg. 2022 Jul;224(1 Pt B):506-513. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.03.006. Epub 2022 Mar 9.

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to present an overview of variations of the hepatic artery from the origin to the segmental branching.

Methods: Abdominal Computed Tomography performed on consecutive patients in our tertiary center between 2019 and 2020 were analyzed. Hepatic arterial branching and its relationship to the portal veins were reported.

Results: Out of 500 imaging, 16 anatomic patterns were found for the origin of hepatic artery, with 65.6% conventional origin at celiac axis (n = 328); 10 patterns for the left hepatic artery, 23 for segment IV artery, and more than 21 for the right hepatic artery (RHA), with conventional branching in respectively 66.8%, 39.6% and in 46.4% of patients. Conventional anatomy from celiac axis to segmental branching was found in 10.4% of patients.

Conclusion: Dedicated thin-section imaging appears to be essential for preoperative planning in liver surgery, given the high variability of arterial distribution and their surgical implications.

Keywords: Anatomy; Hepatic artery; MDCT; Planification; Surgery.

MeSH terms

  • Celiac Artery* / diagnostic imaging
  • Hepatic Artery* / anatomy & histology
  • Hepatic Artery* / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Liver / blood supply
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed