Superior epigastric artery in Vietnamese cadavers: morphometry and comparison of formalin-embalmed with fresh-frozen, dye-injected specimens

Background The superior epigastric artery (SEA) supplies the upper rectus abdominis and is relevant to perforator and rectus-based flaps and epigastric port placement. Data from Vietnam are lacking, and the effect of specimen preparation on SEA branch counts is unknown. Objective To describe SEA morphology in Vietnamese cadavers and to compare its branching between two preparation protocols. Material and methods The right SEA was dissected in 35 adult cadavers: 15 formalin-embalmed, uninjected and 20 fresh-frozen, methylene blue-injected. Origin, course, calibre, branching and linear distances were compared between groups and sides. Results The SEA originated between the superior border of the sixth and the inferior border of the seventh costal cartilage in all specimens and ran superficial to the transversus thoracis in every right-sided specimen. Mean external diameter was 1.96 ± 0.71 mm, and the largest perforating branch measured 1.56 ± 0.50 mm. Fresh-frozen, dye-injected specimens showed more primary branches than embalmed ones (6.90 ± 2.10 vs. 4.00 ± 1.20), a higher prevalence of division into two terminal branches (15/20 vs. 1/15) and of paired venae comitantes (20/20 vs. 7/15); this difference was reproduced on the left. The origin lay at the sixth rather than the seventh costal cartilage more often in fresh-frozen specimens (14/20 vs. 3/15), whereas the origin-to-midline distance, age and sex did not differ between groups. Conclusion SEA origin, course and calibre in this Vietnamese series agree with other populations and suit its use as a flap pedicle. Branch counts depended strongly on the preparation protocol; because preservation and dye injection varied together, their separate contributions cannot be resolved; both should be reported in cadaveric vascular studies.