BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study is to evaluate the hepatic arterial anatomy in donors and recipients of 150 liver transplantations. METHODS: 246 patients were analyzed, 129 donors and 117 liver receptors. RESULTS: Normal arterial anatomy of the liver was seen in 189 (76,82%) patients. Anatomic anomalies were observed in the other 57 (23,18%); the most frequent were: right hepatic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery, left hepatic artery arising from the left gastric artery, right hepatic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery associated with left hepatic artery arising from the left gastric artery and , common hepatic artery arising from the superior mesenteric artery. Some rare anomalies were also seen. CONCLUSIONS: The findings of this study show a high anatomic variability of the hepatic arterial system. The surgeon must be careful during liver dissection both of donors and receptors in order to avoid inadvertent damage to the anomalous arteries to the liver.
Hepatic artery; Liver arterial supply; Superior mesenteric artery; Celiac axis; Liver transplantation
