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Computed angiographic variations in hepatic venous vasculature in dogs
Satoshi Takagi1,2, Ayano Nishino1, Kiwamu Hanazono1
1Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
Objective:
To identify the number of hepatic veins draining directly or indirectly into the caudal vena cava Thank you (CVC) using computed tomography angiography (CTA) in dogs.
Study Design:
Retrospective clinical study.
Animals:
Client-owned dogs (n = 77).
Methods:
Abdominal CTA images were analyzed. Retrospective convenience sampling was performed using archived clinical cases to determine the number of hepatic veins in each liver lobe.
Results:
A median of 2 vessels from the right lateral lobe (range: 1-4) and the caudate process of the caudate lobe (range: 1-5) drained directly into the CVC. In the quadrate lobe, most common patterns consisted of 1 vessel directly draining to the CVC or indirectly via the left hepatic vein (LHV), and a vessel from quadrate lobe and right medial lobe merging into 1 vessel draining into the CVC or the LHV. A median of 3 vessels in the left lateral lobe (range: 2-8) and a median of 1 vessel in the left medial lobe (range: 1-3) drained into the LHV. In the papillary process of the caudate lobe, a median of 1 (range: 1-2) vessel drained directly into the CVC or the LHV.
Conclusion:
The draining pattern of hepatic veins varied widely in all liver lobes, especially the left lateral liver lobe.
Clinical Significance:
Veterinary surgeons should consider the potential presence of multiple hepatic veins and their draining pattern when performing hilar liver lobe resection. Attentive evaluation of a preoperative CTA is recommended for surgical planning.
