An extremely uncommon variation of left hepatic artery around the esophagus: a case report.
An extremely rare case of a replaced left hepatic artery (LHA) around the esophagus in a deceased multi-organ donor is reported. The liver could not be harvested unless either of the LHA or the esophagus was transected. This is the second report of a LHA off the left gastric artery with such a peculiar course around the esophagus. Whether to cut the artery or the hollow viscus in such a situation is controversial; nevertheless, a surgeon must precisely identify all the extrahepatic arteries during liver harvest, to prevent injuries that might result in compromised complete arterialization of the graft.
Altaca
Gulum
G
Department of General Surgery, University of Baskent, School of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. gulumaltaca@superonline.com
Karakayali
Hamdi
H
Haberal
Mehmet
M
D004947:Esophagus / Q000098:blood supply*; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D006499:Hepatic Artery / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D013270:Stomach / Q000098:blood supply; D055815:Young Adult