A study of ostia of hepatic veins draining into the retro- hepatic segment of inferior vena cava in indian population

Introduction: The liver is supplied by hepatic artery and portal vein. The knowledge of the hepatic veins opening into the retro hepatic part of IVC will help in understanding the causes for bleeding in injuries of liver, pathology of Budd – Chiari syndrome, spread of tumors and surgical excision in case of tumor resection. Scope: To provide morphologic & morphometric data of retro hepatic segment of inferior vena cava (RHIVC) and hepatic veins openings into it. To study the size and number of openings of hepatic veins into retro hepatic segment of inferior vena cava Material and methods: The study on the RHIVC was conducted on 45 Indian cadaveric livers, free from major gross pathological changes. The orientation of RHIVC was recorded. The length of RHIVC was measured. The number, size and nature of openings of hepatic veins were determined. Observations & Results: The average length of RHIVC in cadaveric livers was found to be 71.95 mm +/- 9.36 (mean+/_ SD). The direction of axis of the RHIVC was predominantly oblique towards the left in 23 (51.11%). The number of major ostia was predominantly one on both sides. The average size of right superior major ostia was 17.97 mm and left superior major ostia was 13.6mm. The major hepatic veins had single ostium on both sides predominantly. The number of medium sized openings in RHIVC ranged from 1 to 12 and the number of minor ostia ranged from 5 to more than twenty. Conclusion: The present study provides information on the RHIVC – it’s axis – curved to the left being predominant; length - 71.95 mm +/- 9.36; number of tributaries from liver, which may help the surgeons to plan for the interventional radiology and surgical procedures.