The anatomy of the hepatic artery is of great importance in hepatobiliary surgery, especially in cholecystectomy and liver transplantation. The celiac trunk (CT) is the first ventral branch of the abdominal aorta arising at T12/L1 vertebral body level; it passes forward dividing into left gastric artery, common hepatic artery (CHA) and splenic artery, which is the classic distribution pattern [1] [2]. The CHA is recently defined as an arterial trunk containing at least one segmental hepatic artery and the gastroduodenal artery, irrespective of its origin and course; this definition facilitates the study of different (CHA) anomalies [3]. The superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is the second ventral branch of the abdominal aorta arising below the level of the celiac trunk; it gives inferior pancreaticoduodenal, middle colic, right colic, ileocolic, jejunal and ileal branches [4]. The hepatic artery (Proper hepatic artery—PHA) is the branch of the celiac trunk passing forwards and to the right to the upper surface of the first part of the duodenum; it lies in front of portal vein and to the left side of the bile duct; it curves upwards and ascends between the two layers of the lesser omentum to enter the porta hepatis where it divides into two terminal branches, the right hepatic artery (RHA) and the left hepatic artery (LHA). The RHA usually arises from the proper hepatic artery (PHA) which is a continuation of common hepatic artery (CHA), usually to the left of the common hepatic duct (CHD). The RHA runs upward, crossing behind the (CHD) to enter hepatocystic triangle; it gives off the cystic artery (CA) and then turns upward to enter the right lobe of the liver, dividing into an anterior and a posterior branches for segmental supply of the liver and the gall bladder [1] [2]. The knowledge of the anatomical variants in hepatic vascular structures is of great importance in general surgery, laparoscopic surgery, radiological procedures, and the treatment of penetrating injuries involving the peri-hepatic area [5]. When the (RHA) does not arise from the (PHA) or (CHA), its origin is shifted to the aorta or any of the arteries whose normal course is towards right side of the aorta like superior mesenteric artery (SMA), gastroduodenal artery, right gastric artery, or celiac trunk [6] [7]. Michel [8] described the hepatic arterial anatomy and its variations using the results of 200 cadaveric dissections and identified 10 types of hepatic arterial anatomy; type III is the origin of the RRHA from the SMA. The Michel’s classification was modified by Hiatt who distinguishes six categories; the (RRHA) arising from the (SMA)—Hiatt type III, [9] [10]. The (RRHA) comprises 11% - 21% of cases and replaced (LHA) 3.8% - 10% of cases, while accessory RHA and LHA have a frequency of 0.8% - 8% according to a recent review [11]. Embryologically, the celiac trunk derives from six pairs of ventral splanchnic vessels (subphrenic, upper, middle, lower ventricular and upper and lower intestinal), and during the fetal development, these pairs disappear. However, the persistence of longitudinal channels between primitive vessels may lead to vascular anomalies or variations [12].

Anatomical variation in the origin of the right hepatic artery was looked for in eleven human cadavers during routine dissection on the abdominal region carried out in the Dissection Room of the Anatomy Department, College of Medicine, King Saud University. Variation in the origin and course of the RRHA as well as its relations with the hepatic ducts was recorded and appropriate photograph was taken.

The origin of the right hepatic artery (RHA) from the proper hepatic artery (PHA) represents the majority of cases (10 cadavers) (Figure 1). The replaced right hepatic artery (RRHA) was seen arose from (SMA), seen entered the Calot’s triangle, and crossed posteriorly to the common hepatic duct (CHD) (Figure 2).

Our resulting study demonstrated that the (RRHA) originated from the (SMA), which is in agreement with type III Michel’s classification [8], and the later modification as Hiatt type III [9] [10]. Also, our result comprises about 9% of the dissected cases which is in agreement with the results documented by Armaki et al. [4], which is ranged between 5% - 25% of reported cases. The posterior relation of the RRHA to CHD which demonstrated in this work is in agreement with literatures approved by Johnston and Anson [14] and Bhargava et al. [15]. These anatomic variants are explained developmentally; that during embryonic development, the aorta gives off ventral segments, four of which become the celiac, splenic, common hepatic, and superior mesenteric arteries, a longitudinal ventral artery anastomoses these segments. So, the replaced right hepatic artery (RRHA) originates from the persistence of the longitudinal ventral arterial segment connected to the superior mesenteric artery (SMA), so that, it can be attributed to the abnormal persistence or regression of an embryonic artery [12] [16]. Chiang et al. [17] described the anatomical view of the aberrations that are proved by the angiographic studies of hepatic arteries This variant is of no clinical meaning unless the (SMA) becomes compressed, or occluded, which is a common clinical problem, and if the patient possesses a (RRHA), not only the gut but also the liver will become necrotic. Patients with (SMA) embolism often present clinically with atrial fibrillation and persistent abdominal pain, and if the collateral circulation fails, (SMA) occlusion results in life threatening intestinal necrosis [18]. Studies suggest that a (RRHA) is a welcome discovery in right liver living donors, a detrimental consequence of living donor transplantation is a shorter and thinner hepatic artery graft, since dissections of the right hepatic artery in living donors must be limited to the right side of the common bile duct to prevent its devascularization [4]. The RHA variations and anomalies are not just anatomical study concerns but, it plays an important role in surgical bracts, the (RRHA) may be mistaken for (CA), and is liable to get ligated [15]. The (RRHA), as it crosses the bile ducts near the junction of the (CD), is liable to injury during cholecystectomy [19]. An aberrant RHA arising from the (SMA) or the aorta may run behind the portal vein [2]. In pancreatectomy and in operations on the duodenum, an aberrant RHA may be ligated compromising the blood supply to the right lobe. The accessory RHA may be injured during resection of the pancreatic head because the artery lies in close proximity to the portal vein [1]. Due to the variant course, the RHA comes in close proximity to (CD) and the gall bladder, this results in formation of short (CA); thus, RHA may be mistaken for (CA) and inadvertently ligated during surgical procedures like cholecystectomy and liver transplantation [20] [21]. The presence of (RRHA) can be life-saving in patients with bile duct cancer because it is further away from the bile duct and tends to be spared from the cancer, making excision of the tumor feasible [1]. The danger in case of injury to a (RRHA), is manifested on the effect on the liver, specifically the bile duct vascularity with the concomitant risk of a leak in the Bili enteric anastomosis, this is because the RHA is the chief source of blood supply to the bile duct. However, the replaced (CHA) arises from the SMA by a common trunk referred to as the hepatomesenteric trunk; accidental ligation of this vessel can lead to ischemia of the Bili enteric anastomosis [22].

Knowledge of the anatomical variations regarding the origin, course, and destination of the hepatic vasculatures is an important factor to obtain fair results of the hepatobiliary surgeries and to overcome the resultant complications.

Our acknowledgment is to Dr. Sahar Idres for her faithful help for this study.

The authors declare no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

Al-Shaarawy, S. and Salama, E.E.A. (2022) An Aberrant Origin of the Right Hepatic Artery: A Rare Anatomic Variation. And Its Clinical Application. Forensic Medicine and Anatomy Research, 10, 7-12. https://doi.org/10.4236/fmar.2022.101002