Surgical anatomy of the inferior vena cava ligament

The inferior vena cava ligament is a fibrous membrane located around the inferior vena cava. Few reports exist on the ligament's location, attachment to the liver, or the inferior vena cava.

We obtained 16 specimens of human liver and inferior vena cava from cadavers. The inferior vena cava ligament was photographed and then dissected for histological examination. Relationships among the ligament, inferior vena cava, and liver were examined microscopically. The numbers and diameters of veins, arteries, and lymph vessels at least 1 mm in diameter were recorded.

The cranial margin of the inferior vena cava ligament was ended in a blind loop. The cranial portion above the mid-portion of the Spiegel lobe was thicker than the caudal portion. The ligament was attached to the right and left hepatic veins. The mean length of the right side of the inferior vena cava ligament was 37.0 mm and the mean width 15.6 mm. The inferior vena cava ligament had a mean thickness of 0.8 mm (thin end) and 2.5 mm (thick end). Although the inferior vena cava ligament was usually tightly continuous with the liver capsule, microscopically the attachment between the ligament and the inferior vena cava was loose. The mean number and diameter of veins in the inferior vena cava ligament was 1.0 and 1.4 mm, respectively. The mean number and diameter of arteries was 0.2 and 2.4 mm, respectively. The mean number and diameter of lymphatic vessels was 2.8 and 1.7 mm, respectively.

After dissection of the inferior vena cava ligament, major hepatic veins can be dissected extrahepatically. Because the ligament is wider caudally, the forceps should be inserted caudocranially during separation. Since both the number and diameters of lymphatic vessels in the ligament are large, the ligament should be ligated and cut.