Intrapancreatic common hepatic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery, a challenging anatomic variation in a multiorgan harvesting

Abstract

Introduction: Understanding abdominal vascular anatomy is crucial for multiorgan recovery. In this case report, we have described a common hepatic artery that arises from the superior mesenteric artery but follows an intrapancreatic course.

Methods: The donor was ideal for multiorgan recovery and the recipient was a 29-year-old woman awaiting a second transplant owing to primary nonfunction of her first engrafted organ. The indication for transplantation was secondary biliary cirrhosis. A type I diabetic recipient on dialysis therapy was awaiting the kidney and pancreas.

Results: The urgent condition of our liver recipient combined with the anatomical finding prioritized liver procurement, therefore the pancreas was discarded.

Conclusions: The recognition of all anatomic variations will allow us to improve the use of the scarce resource of deceased donor organs.