Benign mechanical obstruction of the common hepatic duct (Mirizzi syndrome)

Common hepatic duct obstruction that results from a gallstone impacted in the cystic duct or fundus of the gallbladder is an uncommon cause of obstructive jaundice and cholangitis. In the literature, the Mirizzi syndrome frequently is used to describe a rare entity consisting of an anatomic variation of the cystic duct or neck of the gallbladder, an impacted gallstone in the cystic duct, and a benign mechanical obstruction of the hepatic duct which causes jaundice and cholangitis. Recently, we saw two patients who had this syndrome. Their case reports, operative management, and a review of the Mirizzi syndrome are discussed in this article.