Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 17, 2026

Author Spotlight: Advancing Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor Treatment with Minimally Invasive Surgical Techniques
Published on: September 27, 2024
Left-Sided Abdominal Pain Revealing Acute Cholecystitis in Situs Inversus Totalis: Diagnostic Pitfalls and Surgical
José Emiliano González Flores1, Aarón Gonzalez Espinosa2
1Surgery, Tecnológico de Monterrey Campus Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico City, MEX.
Abstract:
Situs inversus totalis is a rare congenital condition that can complicate the diagnosis and management of acute abdominal pathology due to atypical symptom localization. Acute cholecystitis in this setting may present with left-sided abdominal pain, increasing the risk of misdiagnosis and delayed treatment. The scientific rationale for this case report is to emphasize the importance of recognizing anatomical variants when evaluating atypical abdominal presentations. We report the case of a 65-year-old woman who presented with left upper quadrant pain, nausea, and vomiting. Imaging studies demonstrated dextrocardia and complete mirror-image transposition of the thoracic and abdominal organs, consistent with situs inversus totalis, along with findings of acute calculous cholecystitis. The patient underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy using a mirrored port placement technique without complications and had an uneventful recovery. This case highlights that early use of imaging and appropriate surgical adaptation enable safe laparoscopic management. Future research should focus on multicenter data to better characterize diagnostic delays and refine surgical strategies in patients with situs inversus totalis.
More Related Videos
05:22Intraoperative Strategy under Complex Vascular Adhesion for Laparoscopic Radical Resection of Bismuth-Corlette Type IIIb Perihilar Cholangiocarcinoma
Published on: February 13, 2026
03:27The Role of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence in Complex Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy Navigation
Published on: January 31, 2025
Related Concept Videos
Abdominal Regions and Quadrants
The simpler quadrants approach, which is more commonly used in medicine, subdivides the cavity with one horizontal and one vertical line that intersects at the patient's umbilicus (navel). The four...
Appendicitis-I: Introduction
Etiology: Appendicitis can arise from various causes, primarily rooted in the obstruction of the appendix lumen. Factors contributing to this obstruction include fecal accumulation, lymphoid hyperplasia and, in...
Chronic Pancreatitis I: Introduction
Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas, which occurs when the immune system becomes active and causes swelling, pain, and disruptions in organ function. Pancreatitis can manifest as either an acute or chronic condition.
Acute pancreatitis arises suddenly and lasts for a brief duration, while chronic pancreatitis is a long-term affliction...
Acute Pancreatitis II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Chronic Bowel Disorders: Introduction
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder affecting the gastrointestinal tract. The distinctive feature is recurrent abdominal pain associated with altered bowel movements, manifesting as constipation, diarrhea, or fluctuating between both. The...
Gallbladder
The gallbladder's anatomy consists of three regions: the fundus, body, and neck. Extending from the neck, the cystic duct joins...