Anatomical Variations of Hepatic Veins and Their Clinical Insight: A Cadaveric Study
Dhanalaxmi Neginhal, Jyotsana G. Kangralkar, Anjaney Yadur, Sheetal V. PattanshettiBackground:
Hepatic veins play an important role in draining deoxygenated blood from the liver into the inferior vena cava (IVC). They are divided into major (right, middle, and left) and minor/accessory veins, with significant anatomical variability reported in their number and pattern. Knowledge of these variations is essential for hepatobiliary surgery, liver transplantation, and interventional radiological procedures.
Materials and Methods:
This cross-sectional cadaveric study was conducted on 90 formalin-preserved human liver specimens obtained through routine dissection. Specimens with intact hepatic segments of the IVC were included. Hepatic veins were classified as major and minor/accessory veins based on luminal diameter (≥1.5 cm and <1.5 cm, respectively). The number, combination, and position of entry of hepatic veins into the IVC were documented. Data were analyzd using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Results:
The number of hepatic veins ranged from 4 to 15 per specimen, with eight veins being the most common configuration (16.67%). Accessory (minor) hepatic veins were present in all specimens, ranging from 2 to 12. The most frequent pattern was two major and three minor hepatic veins (14.44%). Overall, 71.11% (confidence interval [CI]: 61.8–80.4%) of specimens showed two major hepatic veins, while 28.89% (CI: 19.6–38.2%) had three major veins with a statistically significant difference in distribution (
Conclusion:
Hepatic venous anatomy demonstrates considerable variability, with accessory veins forming a consistent component of venous drainage. Recognition of these variations is critical for accurate imaging interpretation and safe surgical and interventional procedures involving the liver.