VARIATIONS FROM THE NORM WITH RESPECT TO ARTERIAL SUPPLY OF THE LIVERIN MESENTERICO-COELIACOGRAPHY

Progress in operative techniques in surgery of the upper abdomen neces sitates extensive preoperative diagnostic studies. Mesenterico-coeliac ography along with CATSCAN form the basis for effective operative plan ning. In the angiography, the clinician is often confronted by variati ons in the arterial supply of the liver. These variations of the norm which are scarcely mentioned in anatomical textbooks must be carefully taken into consideration by the surgeon. In order to clarify the oper ative significance of these variations, we have conducted a retrospect ive study of the angiographies of the truncus coeliacus as well as of the arteria mesenterica superior. We found variations in 25.5% of 204 angiographies. The incidence of deviant and accessory hepatic arteries was 33.8% and of variations in the truncus coeliacus was 6.7%. These variations of the norm are discussed as to clinical and embryological aspects.