The common hepatic artery is the medium-sized branch of the coeliac trunk that carries arterial blood toward the liver, stomach, duodenum and pancreas. It runs to the right along the upper border of the pancreas before dividing into the gastroduodenal artery and the hepatic artery proper. Its course is a key landmark in pancreatic and upper abdominal surgery.
| Origin | Coeliac trunk, as its right branch |
|---|---|
| Course | Runs to the right along the upper border of the head of the pancreas on the posterior wall of the lesser sac and, above the first part of the duodenum, divides into the gastroduodenal artery and the hepatic artery proper |
| Branches |
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The common hepatic artery is highly variable and may arise from the superior mesenteric artery or the aorta, so preoperative imaging is important before pancreatic, biliary or liver transplant surgery. Nodes along the artery (station 8) are routinely removed in gastric cancer surgery, and tumour encasement of the artery is a major factor in judging pancreatic cancer resectability. Aneurysms of the hepatic artery are among the commoner visceral artery aneurysms.
Dilatation of the common or proper hepatic artery, often atherosclerotic or post-traumatic, that may rupture into the peritoneum or biliary tree, treated by endovascular or surgical repair.
Injury during pancreatic, gastric or biliary surgery causing haemorrhage or hepatic and biliary ischaemia, managed by repair or reconstruction.
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