Accessory right hepatic artery and its implications for a surgeon

Area of Science:

• Surgical Anatomy
• Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Vascular Anomalies

Background:

• Accessory hepatic arteries are incidental findings during hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery.
• These vascular anomalies may also be identified via angiogram during hepatic transplantation.
• Proper identification and preservation are vital during surgical procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a case of accessory right hepatic artery.
• To highlight the importance of identifying and preserving anomalous vasculature.
• To emphasize the implications for surgical outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A case of accessory right hepatic artery was identified incidentally.
• The anomaly was carefully dissected and preserved during a pancreaticoduodenectomy (Whipple's procedure).

Main Results:

• The accessory right hepatic artery was successfully identified and preserved.
• No compromise to the oncological margin was observed.

Conclusions:

• Anomalous hepatic vasculature, including accessory hepatic arteries, are rare but significant incidental findings.
• Meticulous identification and preservation are essential to avoid inadvertent injury, severe bleeding, and hepatic necrosis.
• Preserving these anomalous vessels does not negatively impact oncological outcomes.