Anatomical variations of the hepatic artery: study of 932 cases in liver transplantation

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify and to classify anatomical hepatic artery (HA) variations concerning 932 HA dissections in liver transplantation (LT). Normal HA distribution was found in 68.1%. Variations of HA were detected in 31.9% and were divided into three groups describing 48 common hepatic artery (CHA) anomalies, 236 left or right hepatic artery (RHA) anomalies and 13 rare variations including one case of RHA stemmed from the inferior mesenteric artery and one case of normal CHA passed behind the portal vein. The authors propose a modified classification for HA anomalies which are based on the origin of the hepatic arterial supply (either by the CHA as the only source of the arterial vascularization or by additional or replaced right and left arteries) in order to improve management of liver disease thus as in LT.