EXTRA HEPATIC BRANCHING PATTERN OF COMMON HEPATIC ARTERY AND ITS VARIATIONS: A HUMAN CADAVERIC STUDY
Address for Correspondence: Dr. Ashwini C Appaji, Associate Professor, Department of Anatomy, M. S. Ramaiah Medical College, MSRIT Post, Bangalore. 560054, Karnataka, India. Mobile: 9845994708 E Mail: ashwinishivaprasad@gmail.com Background and objective: The hepatic arterial anatomy is variable. Pre operative evaluation of extra hepatic arterial pattern is relevant for the surgeons during hepatic surgery as well as for the radiologists while doing different procedures. The main purpose of the study was to identify the normal variable branching pattern of common hepatic artery. Materials and Methods: Extra hepatic arterial pattern was observed in 45 adult cadavers (male female) by in situ dissection. The point of origin branching pattern of common hepatic artery (CHA) till the porta hepatis were observed and also looked for presence of aberrant/accessory hepatic arteries. The branching pattern of hepatic artery before entering the liver was photographed. Results: Normal extra hepatic arterial pattern was found in 46.67% livers. The variable branching patterns was seen in the remaining livers (53.3% The common variations were: presence of accessory left hepatic artery (LHA) from left gastric artery (LGA) (20% trifurcation of common hepatic artery (CHA) into gastro duodenal artery (GDA) right hepatic artery (RHA) left hepatic artery (LHA) (13.33% origin of right gastric artery (RGA) from left hepatic artery (LHA) (13.33% Some rare variations were also observed. Conclusion: The knowledge of extra hepatic arterial anatomy is important in the field of hepatic surgery especially during split living donor liver transplantations. It will help to reduce the post operative complications such as hepatic necrosis and bleeding during surgery.