Management of Aberrant Left Hepatic Artery During Laparoscopic Gastrectomy and Consequences

Aberrant left hepatic artery (ALHA) can exist in up to 25% of the population. The presence of ALHA during lymph node (LN) dissection in gastric cancer may complicate the process. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the existence rate, management, and consequences of ALHA in our laparoscopic gastrectomy series. Demographical and clinical data of laparoscopically operated 158 consecutive gastric cancer patients were collected retrospectively. Study patients were divided into three groups according to absence, existence and preservation, and existence and sacrification of ALHA. Harvested LN numbers, operation time, and postoperative alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase values on consecutive days were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests.