Ductal variations in the Calot's triangle seen on laparoscopic cholecystectomy

To describe the frequency and pattern of ductal variations seen in the Calot's triangle on laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Descriptive study. This study was conducted in the Surgical Unit 1, Fauji Foundation Hospital, Rawalpindi from December 13, 20008 to February 22, 2011. 200 patients with a diagnosis of biliary colic, cholelithiasis, acute cholecystitis, empyema gall bladder and mucocele gall bladder were included in this study. Patients with age less than 15 years were excluded. Careful dissection of the Calot's triangle was carried out. The anatomical variations of the cystic duct and other anomalous variations in the region were noted and data analyzed on SPSS 10. The age range was 19 to 88 years with a mean of 48 years. The majority [88%] of the patients presented with a clinical diagnosis of biliary colic. The cystic duct was of normal size in 88%, short in 7%, and long in 5% of the cases. The cystic duct terminated laterally into the common hepatic duct in 94% of the cases, anteriorly into the common hepatic duct in 5% and posteriorly into the common hepatic duct in 1% of the cases. Each Calot's triangle differs from the other. Ductal variations are the hallmark of this region and their knowledge is mandatory for a safe laparoscopic cholecystectomy