Right Anterior Hepatic Artery Research Articles

Liver Transection-First Approach in Left Trisectionectomy for Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma.

Left trisectionectomy [(LT) resection of segments 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, and 1] for perihilar cholangiocarcinoma is still a challenging procedure with high postoperative morbidity and mortality. To perform LT safely, the liver transection-first approach was developed. In this approach, liver transection is started without dividing the right anterior hepatic artery (RAHA) and right anterior portal vein (RAPV). After the completion of liver transection, the RAHA and RAPV, which run into the future resected liver, can be easily identified and divided under the wide surgical field at the hepatic hilus. The liver transection-first approach appears to be safer than the conventional LT, leading to less postoperative morbidity and mortality.

In Vivo Evaluation of Feeding Arteries of Tumors in Dorsal Sector of the Liver.

Background:The identification of the dorsal sector of the liver and its detailed vascular anatomy is of primary importance for surgical practice and segmental transcatheter arterial chemoembolization.Objectives:This study aimed to investigate the feeding arteries of tumors in dorsal sector of the liver.Patients and Methods:Computed tomography (CT) and digital subtraction angiography (DSA) images of eleven patients with tumors of the dorsal sector of the liver were analyzed retrospectively. The hepatic arteries that probably supplied the tumors were observed in DSA images. The case number of each hepatic artery feeding to the tumors was calculated. A scoring method was used to estimate each hepatic artery contribution to the tumor stain in DSA images. The accumulative scores were employed to evaluate the blood supply of feeding arteries of the tumors.Results:The data of the study revealed that right posterior hepatic artery (RPHA) (n = 9), middle hepatic artery (MHA) (n = 8), left medial hepatic artery (LMHA) (n = 6), right anterior hepatic artery (RAHA) (n = 5), and caudate hepatic artery (CaHA) (n = 3) were the feeding arteries of the tumors in dorsal sector in eleven patients. The accumulative scores of RPHA, MHA, RAHA, and LMHA were 23, 17, 11, and 7 points, respectively (χ2 = 6.827, P = 0.078, Friedman test). The total scores of right hepatic artery (RHA) branches and left hepatic artery (LHA) branches were 51 and 11 points, respectively (Z = -2.764, P = 0.006, Wilcoxon rank test).Conclusion:The RPHA, MHA, RAHA, and LMHA might be the main feeding arteries of the tumors in dorsal sector of the liver.

Anatomical variations of the origin of the segment 4 hepatic artery and their clinical implications

The threat of ischemic complications following massive resection, especially in living donor hepatectomy or split liver transplantation, has been haunting surgeons for many years. Postmortem dissections of 62 livers were performed to investigate anatomical variations of the principal artery for segment 4 (A4). The origin of A4 was examined separately in the liver with (n = 46) or without (n = 16) an aberrant left hepatic artery (abLHA). A4s were found to be extrahepatic or intrahepatic branches of the right hepatic artery (RHA), left hepatic artery, or proper hepatic artery and were categorized into 4 different types according to their origins. The RHA type, originating from the RHA or right anterior hepatic artery (RAHA), was the most common pattern in our series. The A4 roots had a strong tendency of stemming from the RHA (n = 12) even in the livers with abLHA (n = 16). Among the RHA-type A4s, the A4 arising from RAHA (n = 2) is supposed to be the most dangerous variant because it can cause an ischemic change in the remaining part of the liver after right hepatectomy. In conclusion, in the era of living donor liver transplantation, paying particular attention to the point of origin of A4 is a prerequisite, especially when the lateral section is relatively small. Arterial injuries to A4 during split liver transplantation may also increase the risk of hepatic artery thrombosis and ischemic cholangiopathy.