New aspects in laparoscopic cystic artery anatomy.

While performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy we noticed lateral branches of the cystic artery as well as arterial bleeding from the gallbladder bed. In order to establish the nature of these blood vessels we undertook a corrosion cast study. The features analyzed were their frequency of occurrence, caliber and length. The research was performed on 50 human autopsy specimens of the liver with the hepatoduodenal ligament. Lateral branches of the cystic artery that irrigate a part of the anteromedial segment of the right liver lobe were observed in 10% cases. Anastomotic bridges between the cystic artery and the arterial system of the liver were observed in 12% cases.