Saphenous vein grafts for anatomical variations encountered at surgical insertion of a hepatic artery catheter.

Fifty-five consecutive patients, with colorectal metastases confined to the liver, underwent surgical placement of a hepatic artery catheter. At angiography, abnormal hepatic arterial anatomy was present in 33% of patients. In the majority of patients, the hepatic artery catheter was inserted in the conventional manner. In eleven patients with unusual arterial anatomy, a saphenous vein graft was used to create a conduit for the catheter. Satisfactory perfusion was obtained in all patients.