Dual Cystic Arteries in Association with Caterpillar Hump of Right Hepatic Artery- A Case Report and its Surgical Relevance

Abstract

A rare variation was seen in the arterial supply of liver and gall bladder during dissection of an adult female cadaver. The right hepatic artery was having a tortuous course with double loops and cystic artery was arising from the distal loop within the hepatobiliary triangle. There was an accessory cystic artery arising from the superior pancreaticoduodenal artery outside the hepatobiliary triangle which ascended anterior to the common bile duct and cystic duct towards the gall bladder. The knowledge of these vascular variations is very much essential owing to increase in surgical interventions involving the biliary tract. Recognition of such vascular variations is essential for laparoscopic surgeons to reduce complications like uncontrolled intraoperative bleeding, iatrogenic extrahepatic biliary injuries and conversion to open cholecystectomy. This report emphasizes the necessity of all surgeons being well aware of vascular variations and anomalies to be able to accomplish safe and uneventful hepatobiliary surgeries.

Keywords

• accessory cystic artery
• cholecystectomy
• moynihan’s hump
• superior pancreaticoduodenal artery