The variations of the opening of the human hepatic veins

Abstract

Object of study. The knowledge of variations of the hepatic veins is indispensable in treatment of hepatic diseases, for example, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) formation and liver transplantation. The aim of our study was to investigate variations of the hepatic veins openings. Methods and materials. The left (LHV), intermediate (IHV) and right hepatic veins (RHV) and their tributaries were studied by anatomical dissection of 100 adults (mean 44 years) livers, which have been fixed in a formalin solution after initial removal. Results. The IHV and LHV have showed two types of terminations. In type A, IHV and LHV had a common trunk in 86/100 or 86% of cases that flowed into the inferior vena cava. In type B, IHV and LHV ended separately in the inferior vena cava in 14/100 or 14% of cases. The diameter of the common trunk of IHV and LHV in 100 cases was from 9 mm to 22 mm with average of 14.8 mm. The diameter of the RHV opening in 100 cases was from 9 mm to 25 mm with average of 16.5 mm. The distance between the common trunk and the RHV was from 7 mm to 38 mm with average of 14.8 mm. Conclusions. Our findings showed that the opening of RHV (16.5 mm) was larger than the common trunk of the IHV and LHV (14.8 mm) all together. However, the gaining an access to the right portal vein during while performing TIPS procedures is easier by the right hepatic vein.