Anatomical types of left hepatic vein and its clinical implication

Objective: To provide the anatomic data for liver transplantation and the left hepatic lobotomy. Methods: The hepatic parenchyma were incised and the left hepatic veins (LHV) were exposed from the diaphragmatic surface on 40 adults cadaver liver specimens along the left hepatic veins; the principle left hepatic veins and their tributary were measured and observed. Results: The left hepatic vein were (30.3±1.1) mm in length; the terminal diameter of the principle left hepatic veins were (11.3±0.26) mm; the terminal diameter of the principle tributary were 6 mm; the depths of LHV from the diaphragmatic surface, confluence from LHV into IVC for 10 mm,20 mm,30 mm, were (11.5±0.49) mm, (16±0.59) mm, (19.1±0.64) mm, respectively; the angle between the left hepatic veins with hepatic falciform ligament were (30.29±12.33)°; the middle and left hepatic veins presented a common trunk in 30%; the left hepatic veins were divided into 6 types according to its principle tributary numbers. Conclusion: The location and the tributary numbers of left hepatic vein is various in the left hepatic lobes; the tributary number are 3-4 branches at most. These data is very important for hepatic surgery.