Portal vein variations in Sri Lankan patients: a computed tomographic imaging based study

Knowledge about portal vein (PV) branch anatomy variations is essential in preventing disastrous complications following liver surgeries. Case series among Sri Lankan patients reporting variations in PV branching anatomy has not been published previously. This study reports a series of PV branch variations among patients who had a contrast-enhanced Computed Tomography (CT) is done at the Teaching Hospital Anuradhapura (THA). PV branching was classified into Types A – D. Primary PV branching variations occurred among 12.6% of patients. Type C variation was the commonest (7.8%). Background Knowledge about the PV branch anatomy is essential in live donor liver transplantation, liver resection, transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic stent shunt insertion (TIPSS), portal vein embolization, etc. The primary PV branching pattern is reported to vary in 11% -21.5% of subjects even though this is less frequent than the hepatic arterial and hepatic venous anatomy variations (1-3). But detailed knowledge of the PV branching variations is important to plan the surgery and to avoid complications. No such case series of PV branching variations have been reported in Sri Lanka.