Sutures and Wound Repair/ General Surgery (ABSA) Practice Test

Hemorrhage during surgery on the biliary tree is often a result of injury to which vessel?

1. Hepatic artery

2. Cystic artery

3. Common bile duct

4. Gastroduodenal artery

The correct answer is: Cystic artery

The cystic artery is frequently involved in hemorrhage during surgical procedures on the biliary tree because it supplies blood to the gallbladder and is often encountered during operations such as cholecystectomy. During this type of surgery, the cystic artery is typically identified and ligated to prevent bleeding, but if it is inadvertently injured or not properly managed, it can lead to significant hemorrhage. Other vessels, such as the hepatic artery, also supply the liver and can be involved in more complex surgeries, but injuries to this artery typically pose a higher risk in extensive resections or procedures affecting the liver rather than those focused primarily on the biliary tree. The common bile duct itself is a conduit for bile, not a blood vessel, so it would not be a source of hemorrhage. The gastroduodenal artery is related to the duodenum and stomach, and while significant injuries can occur in upper abdominal surgeries, they are less directly associated with surgeries on the biliary system than the cystic artery. Thus, the cystic artery is the most relevant vessel for bleeding complications during biliary surgeries.