Unique case of a replaced right hepatic artery

Katherine E Kondratuk, Elizabe

Abstract

The case of a replaced right hepatic artery sharing a common origin with the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery is reported. A right hepatic artery originating from the superior mesenteric artery occurs in 10-20% of the population. When a right hepatic artery is replaced and shares a common origin with the inferior pancreaticoduodenal artery the combined variation has a prevalence of <3%. This variant is not typically associated with pathology except in cases of superior mesenteric artery occlusion. A replaced right hepatic artery may have dangerous clinical consequences if the variant is not recognized before pancreaticoduodenectomy and laproscopic cholecystectomy procedures. The distribution of peripancreatic vasculature should be discerned prior to transarterial interventions. Specific details of the observed case are reported and the clinical and surgical considerations are further discussed.