BLOOD-SUPPLY OF THE RIGHT AND LEFT HEPATIC DUCTS

Background Increasing precision of liver resection and use of reduced liver grafts stimulated this study of the blood supply of the intrahep atic bile ducts,Method Corrosion casts of human liver were dissected t o study the blood supply of the right and left hepatic ducts, Results The dissected casts showed that the ducts are surrounded by a vascular plexus supplied from the main right and left hepatic arteries, segmen tal arteries, gastroduodenal artery and accessory hepatic arteries, Th is plexus is closely associated with the arteries supplying the caudat e lobe, They arise from both right and left in two general patterns. T his plexus links the arterial supplies of the right and left livers. S egment IV and the central portion of the left hepatic duct are often s upplied by the right arterial system. Conclusion This study provides f urther insights into bile duct blood supply. The caudate lobe and bili ary plexus provide collateral connections between the right and left l ivers.