ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the anatomy of the inferior right hepatic veins (IRHV).Methods The IRHVs were divided into 3 groups according to the location where they entered into the retrohepatic inferior vena cava at: the upper 1/3, middle or lower 1/3. The incidence, number, caliber, extrahepatic length and the relationship between the major hepatic veins (the right, middle and the left hepatic veins) and the IRHV were observed and measured in 60 adult cadavers. Results The incidence of IRHV was 83.33% with an average diameter of 2.62-18.46(14.32±1.21)mm. Its extrahepatic length was 3.26-47.65 (10.78±7.81)mm. There was a marked negative correlation between the diameter of the IRHV and its number, a marked negative correlation between the diameter of the IRHV and the diameter of the right hepatic vein and a marked positive correlation between the number of the IRHV and the diameter of the right hepatic vein. Conclusions There were high variations in the incidence and anatomy of the IRHV which were related to the diameter of the right hepatic vein. The IRHV was not to be torn during liver resection and should be reconstructed in right liver grafts.