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Anatomical variations of the cystic artery
Bostjan Mlakar1, Eldar M Gadzijev, Dean Ravnik
1Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Insights
Understanding the cystic artery
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Surgical Anatomy
- Vascular Anatomy
Background:
- The cystic artery's origin is crucial for managing gallbladder fossa bleeding.
- Variations in cystic artery supply can complicate surgical procedures.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the anatomical variations in the origin of the cystic artery.
- To provide detailed insights into the arterial supply of the gallbladder.
Main Methods:
- Anatomical study of the arterial supply to the gallbladder.
- Analysis of 81 liver specimens to determine cystic artery origins.
Main Results:
- The gallbladder was supplied by a single cystic artery in 86% of cases, originating from the right hepatic artery in 53%.
- In 14% of cases, two cystic arteries were observed, most commonly both arising from the right hepatic artery.
- Variations included origins from sectional hepatic arteries and segmental arteries.
Conclusions:
- The right hepatic artery is the most common origin for the cystic artery.
- Awareness of cystic artery anatomical variations is essential for surgical safety and preventing hemorrhage.
Abstract:
Thorough knowledge about the origin of the cystic artery is surgically important, especially when intraoperative or post-operative bleeding occurs in the gallbladder fossa. The arterial supply of the gallbladder was studied in 81 livers. The gallbladder was supplied by one cystic artery in 86% and by two arteries in 14% of cases. When a single artery was present, it originated from the right hepatic artery in 53% of livers. Other origins included the anterior or the posterior sectional hepatic artery, the replacing right hepatic artery, and in 5% of cases, segmental arteries for segments 4, 5, 6 and 8. When two cystic arteries supplied the gallbladder, both most commonly originated from the right hepatic artery (7% incidence). In 1% of cases, a subsegmental branch for segment 6 and a subsegmental branch for segment 5 respectively, originated from the cystic artery.
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