RIGHT HEPATIC ARTEY: CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF VARIATIONS IN THE ORIGIN AND ITS RELATIONS WITH THE COMMON HEPATIC DUCT

Abstract

The right hepatic artery is an end artery and contributes sole arterial supply to right lobe of the liver . It also supplies the gall bladder, cystic duct, common hepatic duct and upper and middle part of common bile duct. Normal hepatic arterial anatomy occurs in approximately in 80% of cases, for the remaining 20% multiple variations have been described. Misinterpretation of anatomical variations of the right hepatic artery contribute to the major intraoperative mishaps and complications in hepatobiliary surgery. Materials and Methods: This descriptive study conducted on 50 cadavers in Department of Anatomy,Govt Medical College, Kozhikode to document the normal anatomy and different variations of right hepatic artery regarding its origin and relation with the common hepatic duct. Results : Right hepatic artery had its origin from proper hepatic artery in 47 (94%) cases, in one case the artery came from common hepatic artery, aberrant origin of right hepatic artery was seen in 4% cases, one case from celiac trunk directly and the other from superior mesenteric artery. Relation with common hepatic duct : In 46 cases (92%) the artery (normal and aberrant) passes posterior to common hepatic duct. In 6%, the artery was related anterior to common hepatic duct. In one case the artery was medial to the common hepatic duct. Conclusions : This study highlights the importance of knowledge of such anomalies since their awareness will decrease morbidity and help to keep away from a number of surgical complications.