Role of the anterior fissure vein in ventral or dorsal resection of the superior anterior segment of the liver (Segment VIII)

Abstract

Background: The vein that runs between ventral and dorsal Segment VIII is called the anterior fissure vein (AFV). AFV is sometimes needed as a boundary for subsegmental resection of Segment VIII. Methods: We analyzed data from 151 patients who had undergone abdominal computed tomographic (CT) examinations. The position of the AFV is identified by determining whether the AFV drains flows into the proximal, medial, or distal portion of the middle hepatic vein (MHV) or right hepatic vein (RHV). Furthermore, the proximal region is divided into 2 halves; the proximal portion is designated as P1 and the distal portion is designated as P2. Results: The AFV could be identified in 78.8% (119/151) of the patients. The AFV flowed into the MHV in 84.9% of the patients and into the RHV in 15.1%. Among the former, the AFV flowed into the proximal MHV in 69.7% of the patients. Conclusions: Although the AFV might not be easily identifiable, the AVF can be used to determine the border between the ventral and dorsal portions of Segment VIII. The AFV should thus be used as a landmark for subsegmentectomy.