The Significance of the Variant Left Accessory Hepatic Artery in Surgery for Proximal Gastric Cancer

Abstract

• During proximal resection of the stomach and gastrectomy, a large left accessory hepatic artery originating from the left gastric artery is sometimes found. When this occurs together with absent or weak collateral circulation in the corresponding part of the liver, it is necessary to perform resection of the left lobe of the liver (0.91% of all cases). This tactic can save a patient from the development of lethal complications of necrosis of the left lobe. (Arch Surg 1987;122:725-728)