Laparoscopic cholecystectomy for duplication of the gallbladder: A case report.

INTRODUCTION

Gallbladder duplication is a rare anomaly among clinical gallbladder diseases, with an incidence of approximately 1: 4000 worldwide. Abnormal embryonic development can lead to gallbladder duplication and alterations in the morphology of these structures. Currently, laparoscopic cholecystectomy remains the preferred treatment for gallbladder duplication. However, due to its anatomical variations, it is easy to cause iatrogenic damage during surgery.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

Here, we report the case of a 36-year-old female patient who was referred for recurrent biliary colic and underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, as scheduled. A duplicated gallbladder was found intraoperatively. We successfully removed both of the gallbladders. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged four days after surgery.

DISCUSSION

Due to its rarity, gallbladder duplication is seldom identified preoperatively due to various confounding factors; consequently, this condition is frequently diagnosed during surgery. Due to its anatomical variations, gallbladder duplication poses a significant risk of iatrogenic injury during surgical procedures, thus representing a significant challenge to the surgeon's experience and expertise.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic ultrasound (LUS) and indocyanine green-fluorescent cholangiography (ICG-FC) can help reduce the risk of vascular injury and enhance surgical safety, especially in patients with gallbladder malformations or when the anatomy of Calot's triangle is unclear due to severe inflammation.