Anatomical and congenital anomalies of extra hepatic biliary system encountered during cholecystectomy

Anomalous biliary anatomy is frequently encountered by surgeons during cholecystectomy. Importance of its recognition lies in avoiding serious biliary injuries. This study was carried out to assess the frequency of anatomical and congenital anomalies of extrahepatic biliary system in patients undergoing cholecystectomy. This is an observational study performed in the Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Momenshahi, CMH Ghatail and Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for a period of five years from June 2007 to June 2012. Two hundred and fifty diagnosed patients of cholelithiasis undergoing routine cholecystectomy were assessed for anatomical and congenital anomalies of extra hepatic biliary system as well as vascular anomalies. Structures mainly assessed for anomalies were gall bladder, cystic duct, supraduodenal part of Common Bile Duct (CBD), cystic artery and hepatic artery which are routinely handled during cholecystectomy. However, assessment of variations and anomalies, of hepatic ducts, portal vein, retroduodenal and pancreatic parts of CBD were not done due to possibility of iatrogenic injuries. Two hundred and fifty cases of cholelithiasis comprising 216(86.4%) females and 34(13.6%) males with mean age of 39.15 years were included in the study. Clinical presentation includes mainly pain in right hypochondrium (74.8%), pain in right hypochondrium and epigastrium (18.8%) and pain in epigastrium alone (7.6%). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was done in 157 patients and 93 patients were treated by open procedure including conversion cases. Operative findings revealed variations in 38 cases (15.2%) mainly involving cystic artery (8%), cystic duct (4.4%) and gall bladder (1.6%). Postoperative complications includes bleeding 3.6%, biliary leak from drain 1.6% and CBD injury 0.8% giving rise to 0.8% morbidity, however, no mortality was seen in this series. Anatomical and congenital anomalies of biliary tree, are not common but may be significant during surgery as failure to recognize them leads to iatrogenic injuries and can increase morbidity and mortality.