Applied anatomy of repairing retrohepatic inferior vena cava

Objective:To provide anatomic data for operations for repairing retrohepatic inferior vena cava. Methods:Fifty adult cadavers were used in this study. The inferior vena cava was incised along its posterior wall in order to expose the ostia of hepatic veins. We measured the size and position of the ostia,the distance between the second hepatic portal and the third one,the height of inferior vena cava above second hepatic portal and the altitudes of the second hepatic portal and the third one. The branches of short hepatic veins in the third hepatic portal were also observed. Results:The three main hepatic veins locating in the upper part of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava tend to form the second hepatic portal. Meanwhile,the short hepatic veins introducing into lower part of vena cava construct the third hepatic portal. The refluence vein branches are 4 to 8. Most veins locating right side wall and front wall come from lobus hepatic dexterand,and those at left side wall from lobus caudatus. A space between the two hepatic portals can be observed and the distance between them is (21.9±5.8)mm.The height of inferior vena cava above second hepatic portal is (21.2±4.7)mm,and the altitudes of the second hepatic portal and the third one is (21.4±6.3)mm and (40.6±8.7)mm,respectively. Conclusions:The second hepatic portal and the third one have their own character respectively. There is a space between them. To grasp these characters should benefit for the choice of incisions to the second hepatic portal and the third one,and could improve the success rates in the operations for repairing retrohepatic inferior vena cava.