ABSTRACT
Background: A successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with the knowledge about anatomic structures and the congenital anomaly of the biliary tract. The aim of this study was to become familiar with vascular variations in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.Methods: This was a retrospective clinical study. The files of patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy due to benign gallbladder diseases were analyzed. The characteristics and complications of the patients with double cystic artery were recorded and examined.Results: A total of 360 patients, 76 males and 284 females were included in the study. The mean age was 51.2 (25-81). When the files of the patients were examined, it was found that double cystic arteries were detected during the operation in two male (2.63%) and nine female patients (3.16%). Gall bladder polyp was found as an indication for operation in one of 11 patients, while multiple gallbladder stones were found as an indication for operation in the other patients. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy was converted to conventional cholecystectomy in two from 11 patients (18.1%) with double cystic arteries due to bleeding. The mean duration of hospital stay in the patients with double cystic artery is 5.2 (3-11) days, and (2.7 days) longer compared to the patients without a double cystic artery.Conclusions: Cystic artery variations and other variations can coexist. Awareness of cystic artery variations can reduce the possibility of uncontrolled intraoperative bleeding, extrahepatic biliary injury, and switching to conventional cholecystectomy.