Replaced gastroduodenal artery: Added benefit of the “artery first” approach during pancreaticoduodenectomy—A case report

•A “replaced” artery is a totally replaced variant artery in the absence of the normal artery that has the same name.•The gastroduodenal artery supplies arterial perfusion to the head of the pancreas.•Arterial anomalies need to be identified and managed appropriately during surgery to prevent end organ ischemia.

IntroductionVariations in hepatic arterial anatomy are frequently encountered in pancreas and liver surgery. These aberrancies add technical complexity to the procedure and can result in significant patient morbidity if these vascular nuances are not recognized.Presentation of caseWe report a case whereby a superior mesenteric artery first approach was used to locate and preserve an aberrant left hepatic artery arising from a replaced gastroduodenal artery emanating from the SMA during pancreaticoduodenectomy. The procedure was done for resection of a large duodenal adenoma.DiscussionHigh-quality preoperative imaging and mastery in surgical expertise are requirements for identification and preservation of aberrant hepatic arterial anatomy during procedures involving vital intra-abdominal organs.ConclusionOur aim is to provide awareness of rare vascular anomalies encountered during pancreaticoduodenectomy and provide a unique method for successful management.