OBJECTIVETo explore the application value of the MI-3DVS in patients with hepatic artery variation receiving duodenopancreatectomy.

METHODSA total of 114 patients who had undergone pancreatoduodenectomy were retrospectively summarized and analyzed during January 2010 to July 2012. The clinical data of 64-slice multidetector CT angiography (64-MDCTA) scanning was introduced into MI-3DVS for procedural segmentation, registration and 3-dimensional reconstruction. Based on the reconstructed 3-dimensional model, the origination and bifurcations of variant hepatic artery was observed. And its anatomical relationships with abdominal organs and vessels were also observed. Thereafter, preoperative procedures planning was formulated. The findings were compared to those found during the operation and by postoperative digital subtraction angiography (DSA) of coeliac artery.

RESULTSThe abdominal 3D models can clearly display the size and shape of tumor, the origin and course of the blood vessels, as well as the 3D anatomic relationship between tumors and organs, blood vessels. A total of 14 cases (12.3%, 14/114) were found with variant, including 9 cases (7.9%) with replaced right hepatic artery arising from superior mesenteric artery, 3 cases (2.6%) with replaced common hepatic artery arising from superior mesenteric artery, 2 cases (1.8%) with replaced left hepatic artery arising from left gastric artery. The 14 patients all received standard procedures of duodenopancreatectomy. Compared to the intraoperative findings and postoperative DSA examination, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of MI-3DVS to variant hepatic artery is 100%. The preoperative planning guided by MI-3DVS is in line with the intraoperative findings.No postoperative complications occurred in all 14 patients, including hepatic abscesses, biliary fistula and liver failure.

CONCLUSIONSMI-3DVS can accurately diagnose hepatic artery variation before duodenopancreatectomy. Therefore, it contributes to the formulation of preoperative surgical plans.It also increases the success rate of the surgical operations and decreases the occurrence of postoperative complications.