Septate gall bladder: a surgical surprise with review of literature

Septate gallbladder is a rare congenital anomaly, which can present a challenge for the surgeon who performs laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The common first line modality for screening in symptomatic gallbladder pathology is still ultrasonography. Preoperative diagnosis of this anomaly is not common. Pre- operative diagnosis and being acquainted with this anomaly decreases the possibility of injury to the biliary tract, the number of postoperative complications and the possible need for further surgical procedures. We present a case of septate gallbladder, which was diagnosed during the operative procedure. Despite the finding of a septate gallbladder, the performance of laparoscopic cholecystectomy was uneventful.

Surgical significance of variations in anatomy in the biliary region.

Variations in the anatomy of the gallbladder, the bile ducts, and the arteries that supply them and the liver are important to the surgeon, because failure to recognize them can cause iatrogenic injury to the biliary tract. A surgeon should be always be careful while operating in this area. In addition these anomalies are associated with a range of other congenital anomalies, including biliary atresia and cardiovascular or other gastrointestinal malformations, biliary lithiasis, choledochal cyst, anomalous pancreaticobiliary junction etc, so a look out for other anomalies should be carried out simultaneously.