Incomplete excision of the gallbladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Dissection and transection of the cystic duct close to the gallbladder has been advocated as a means of avoiding common bile injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). We present three cases in which inadequate identification of the gallbladder-cystic duct junction resulted in incomplete cholecystectomy. In two patients an unsecured gallbladder infundibulum presented as cystic duct leaks and one patient developed recurrent symptomatic cholelithiasis. These cases emphasize the need for complete dissection and visualization of the cystic duct at the gallbladder prior its division and secure ligation during LC.