Measurements between the hepatic veins and portal venous system, in human cirrhotic liver: a cast study

To measure the distance between the right and middle hepatic veins and portal vein branches, in human cirrhotic liver casts. Was this measure actually smaller in the cirrhotic liver than in normal one? This study was authorized by an area Research Ethics Committee, and each study subject or legal representative granted signed informed consent. Acrylic corrosion casts of 21 resected cirrhotic livers were generated. Diameters of hepatic veins and portal branches and pertinent intervening distances were measured. To assess differences in estimated average (relative to reference values), Student’s t test for one sample was applied. Mean distances from right hepatic vein to the right portal branch and to portal vein bifurcation were 33 ± 6.4 and 36 ± 7.4 mm, respectively, both significantly less than published reference values in healthy human livers (p