Splenic artery used for replaced common hepatic artery reconstruction during pancreatoduodenectomy--a case report.

The arterial anatomy supplying the liver is highly variable. A replaced common hepatic artery originating from superior mesenteric artery is a rare anomaly. We herein present the case of a patient with retro pancreatic lymph nodes recurrence after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for pT2 gallbladder carcinoma, whose replaced common hepatic artery arose from the superior mesenteric artery. It was performed a Whipple operation en bloc with the replaced common hepatic artery resection (enhanced by the tumour). The arterial reconstruction was needed (due to the severe decrease of the arterial flow after clamping the replaced common hepatic artery), using the splenic artery, without any serious complications.