Anatomical variations in the pattern of the right hepatic veins draining the posterior segment of the right lobe of the liver

Background: The pattern of drainage in the right posterior lobe of liver varies considerably. The knowledge of this variation is very important while performing various surgeries on the right posterior lobe. Aim: A study was conducted to see the variations in the pattern of drainage of posterior segment of the right lobe of liver. The aim was to see the variations of right hepatic vein and small accessory hepatic veins draining the posterior segment, the presence of which led to modifications in drainage of posterior segment. Material and Methods: Sixty formalin fixed adult human liver specimens were dissected manually. Results: According to the pattern of drainage of tributaries of right hepatic vein, the right hepatic vein was classified into type I, type II, type III and type IV. According to presence of inferior right hepatic vein, three types of drainage of posterior lobe were seen: Type I, (76.36%) right hepatic vein was large, draining wide area of posterior segment. A small inferior right hepatic vein drained the small area of posterior segment. In Type II, (19.92%) both right hepatic and inferior right hepatic veins were medium sized draining the posteroinferior segment of the right lobe concomitantly. In Type III, (32%) accessory veins, the middle right hepatic vein drained the posterosuperior (VII) as well as the posteroinferior (VI) segment. In one specimen, there were numerous middle right hepatic veins draining the right posterior segment. The knowledge of anatomic relationship of veins draining right lobe, is important in performing right posterior segmentectomy. Conclusion: For safe resection of the liver, the complex anatomy of the distribution of the tributaries of the right hepatic vein and the accessory veins have to be studied prior to any surgery done on liver.