Chyle leakage after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient with duplicated cystic ducts: A case report and literature review.

RATIONALE

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is widely performed as a standard treatment for cholelithiasis, and chyle leakage after LC has rarely been reported. Duplicated cystic ducts draining a single gallbladder is an extraordinarily rare variation.

PATIENT CONCERNS

We presented a case of chyle leakage after LC in a 53-year-old female with a rare variation of duplicated cystic ducts.

DIAGNOSES

Chyle leakage and duplicated cystic ducts.

INTERVENTIONS

Conservative treatment including lipid intake and constant drainage.

OUTCOMES

After 24 days of conservative treatment, the patient recovered and had no further troubles during the 3-month follow-up.

LESSONS

There may be a potential relationship between anatomic variants of the extrahepatic bile ducts and those of the lymphatic system. When anatomic variations of the extrahepatic bile ducts are encountered, vigilance for lymphatic system injuries is as important as vigilance for bile duct injuries. Conservative therapy is the first choice for postoperative chyle leakage, and surgical intervention should be considered in cases with high-volume chyle leakage.