Important biliary drainage variations of left liver lobe.

Biliary drainage of the left liver lobe has been examined in view of the current surgical trends for using the left liver lobe of living parent donor for liver transplantation. For this purpose, on 13 acrylic casts of porto-biliary elements of the liver, variations of pattern and level of merging of segmental ducts into a left lobe (lateral) duct were determined in comparison with the main portal trunks. Duplication of ducts was noticed in segments 2 and 3; merging of a duct from the left portion of segment 1 with a duct from segment 2; merging of a double left medial duct with a duct from segment 3 and a magistral pattern of consecutive confluence of segmental ducts from lateral and medial sectors as well as from the left portion of segment 1 into a duct arising from segment 3. Bearing in mind lateral tributaries of the left lobe duct that comprise segment 2, the left portion of segment 1 and subsegment 9 "b" from the right dorsal sector, the disadvantages of obtaining a left lobe graft can be identified.