A rare hepatic artery variant reporting and a new classification

Area of Science:

• Anatomical variations
• Surgical anatomy
• Medical imaging

Background:

• Hepatic artery variations are common but complicate surgeries like liver transplantation.
• Existing classifications struggle with rare anatomical anomalies.
• Precise pre-operative definition of hepatic artery variants is crucial for patient safety.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address limitations in current hepatic artery classifications for rare variations.
• To propose a novel classification system for complex hepatic artery anomalies.
• To enhance the understanding and management of uncommon hepatic artery variations.

Main Methods:

• Review of rare hepatic artery variants in surgical literature.
• Application of 3D CT technology and the existing CRL classification.
• Development and validation of the proposed ex-CRL classification system.

Main Results:

• A novel classification (ex-CRL) was developed for hepatic artery variations beyond conventional scope.
• The ex-CRL classification successfully categorized a unique case with two accessory left hepatic arteries.
• The new system demonstrated improved accuracy in classifying rare anatomical variants compared to existing methods.

Conclusions:

• The ex-CRL classification significantly expands the scope of current hepatic artery variant classification.
• This new system enhances the understanding and generalization of rare hepatic artery anomalies.
• Implementing the ex-CRL classification can help reduce surgical complications in perihepatic procedures.