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Updated: Aug 14, 2025

Application of the En Bloc Concept Combined with Anatomic Resection in Laparoscopic Hepatectomy
Published on: March 10, 2023
A portal quadrad with triple hepatic arteries
Claire E Stoudemire1, Caitlin N Sachsenmeier1, Brittney L Link1
1Department of Anatomy, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA, USA.
Insights
This study details a rare case of three aberrant hepatic arteries found during autopsy. Understanding these arterial variations is crucial for preventing surgical complications.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Vascular Anatomy
- Surgical Anatomy
Background:
- The proper hepatic artery (PHA), branching from the celiac trunk, typically supplies the liver.
- Aberrant hepatic arteries, often arising from the superior mesenteric artery or left gastric artery, are common variations.
Observation:
- Postmortem dissection revealed an unusual combination of three extrahepatic arteries.
- These included a replaced left hepatic artery (rLHA) from the left gastric artery, a PHA, and a replaced right hepatic artery (rRHA) from the superior mesenteric artery.
Findings:
- The subject presented with a unique trifecta of hepatic artery variations.
- The rLHA and rRHA demonstrated specific origins from non-standard arteries.
Implications:
- Knowledge of these rare hepatic artery variations is vital for surgeons and interventional radiologists.
- Accurate anatomical understanding can prevent intraoperative complications and improve patient outcomes in liver procedures.
Abstract:
The arterial support of the liver is most commonly from the celiac trunk via the proper hepatic artery (PHA). The PHA divides into left and right branches: the right hepatic artery (RHA) supplies the right and caudate lobes while the left hepatic artery (LHA) supplies the left and quadrate lobes. Aberrant hepatic arteries are relatively common, and the most frequent contributors are the superior mesenteric artery and left gastric artery. Herein we present findings from postmortem dissection of an abdominal cavity that revealed a rare combination of reported variations. Specifically, this subject had three extrahepatic arteries - a replaced LHA (rLHA), a PHA, and a replaced RHA (rRHA). The rLHA originated from the left gastric and the rRHA originated from the superior mesenteric artery. Knowledge of these variations is important for surgical and radiological procedures to avoid complications during treatment and improve patient outcomes.
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