An observation of the anastomoses of intrahepatic veins in normal human adults.
To determine whether the hepatovenous intrahepatic anastomoses exist in normal humans. A total of 13 livers were isolated during the early autopsies of normal men who died in accidents. Perfusion venography of the branches of hepatic veins using meglucamine diatrizoate was performed in 6 cases. This method of investigation has not been reported in the literature. In one case, a portal venography was done. In the remaining 6 cases, liver substance stainings were done by injecting ink through the middle hepatic vein, and the tissue sections of these livers were observed under light microscope. There were intrahepatic anastomoses between the hepatic veins within the liver. These anastomoses belonged to the 4th or 5th branch of hepatic vein near the capsule. There were also anastomoses between the middle hepatic vein and the hepatic short veins. Shunts existed between the portal veins and hepatic veins. The detection of anastomoses of intrahepatic veins in normal individuals provide anatomical rationale for the performance of irregular hepatectomy, as well as rationale for the ligation of one or two hepatic veins should such veins be traumatized or invaded by liver cancer.