Rare variation of hepatic blood supply with accessory right and left hepatic artery

Abstract

In recent decades, multiple studies have examined the various manifestations of the hepatic blood supply using anatomical preparation and imaging procedures (angiography, CT). Based on these observations, several classifications have emerged to determine blood supply types and their incidence rates. Our aim is to present a rare variation of the arterial blood supply of the liver through an anatomical preparation. Postmortem native CT scans of the abdominal organs of the described cadaver were performed, followed by three-dimensional reconstruction. After imaging, the abdominal block was fixed with formalin, then the vessels were visualized by layered anatomical preparation. The liver is supplied not only from the bifurcated proper hepatic artery, but also receives accessory branches from the left gastric artery and the superior mesenteric artery. This variation represents the widely used Michels’ classification type VII, found in 0.2–0.73% of the cases. Vascular variations are not only remarkable from an anatomical point of view, but their preoperative mapping also plays a significant role in performing surgical interventions without any complications.