ANATOMIC VARIATIONS OF THE HEPATIC ARTERY FROM ITS ORIGIN UNTIL ITS DISTRIBUTION IN HEPATIC PEDICLE

Abstract

Objective: To identify anatomic variations of the hepatic artery according its distribution and disposition at the hepatic pedicle. Methods: A prospective study in which we did dissect the hepatic pedicle in 30 corpses of both sex, carrying out a graphic and photographic record.
Results: Common hepatic artery starts in 100 % of cases from celiac trunk (CT). Its variations are: Branches of the common hepatic artery (RHA): Gastroduodenal artery in 3,33 % of cases arises from RHA; pyloric artery (PA) arises from RHA in 3,33 % of cases and as accessory in 5 % from left hepatic artery (LHA). About the final branches of hepatic artery proper (HAP) we found that RHA gives segmentary branches in 10 %, and arises from superior mensenteric artery (SMA) in 3 % of cases. According to its branches, cystic artery (CA) receives an accesory branch, in 6 % from HAP. The LHA gives segmentary branches extrahepatically in a 17 %, and it arises from the left gastric artery as an accessory branch in 15,34 % of the cases studied. In a 2 %, the hepatic artery shows a unique trajectory, cephalic convexity, inferior concavity and it emits only segmentary branches at hepatic hilium. Conclusions: Classic anatomy is present in the 60 % of the cases, being a 40 % of anatomic variations.