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Laparoscopic Common Bile Duct Exploration in Patients with a Previous History of Biliary Tract Surgery
Published on: February 10, 2023
Repeat Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy for Duplicated Gallbladder After 16-Year Interval
Theresa N Wang1, Jabi E Shriki2, Deborah L Marquardt1,3
1Department of Surgery, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle.
Background:
Gallbladder duplication can present a diagnostic challenge, particularly in patients who have had prior cholecystectomy with a missed duplicated gallbladder.
Case Presentation:
Presented is the case of a man with 16 years of recurrent, persistent right upper quadrant pain after cholecystectomy who was found to have a duplicated gallbladder.
Conclusions:
Gallbladder duplication can be difficult to diagnose and frequently evades preoperative visualization. In particular, patients who have had prior operations or infections that may lead to epigastric adhesions are at higher risk for a missed gallbladder duplication at time of operation. An intraoperative cholangiogram should be routinely performed when the inferior liver margin is poorly visualized due to scarring or patient habitus. Gallbladder anomalies should be considered in the differential preoperatively for all patients undergoing hepatobiliary procedures and for postoperative patients with persistent biliary symptoms.
