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Laparoscopic excision of a triple gallbladder

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Abstract

Triplication of the gallbladder is a rare congenital anomaly of the biliary tract; there are only nine reported cases to date. We report a case in which laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed in a patient with biliary colic and choledocholithiasis. Preoperative assessment with ultrasound and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) failed to reveal the eventual findings of a triple gallbladder. Successful excision of the triple gallbladder was carried out laparoscopically, and the final diagnosis was confirmed by the pathologist. The patient made an uneventful postoperative recovery and was free of gastrointestinal symptoms at follow-up. This case report describes the first laparoscopic excision of a triple gallbladder and highlights the importance of pre-/perioperative imaging to allow for the safe dissection of rare anomalies of the biliary tract via the laparoscopic approach.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust, Foresterhil, Aberdeen, Scotland AB25 2ZN, UK

    S. Nanthakumaran & P. M. King

  2. Department of Gastroenterology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Grampian University Hospitals NHS Trust, Aberdeen, Scotland AB25 2ZN, UK

    T. S. Sinclair

Authors
  1. S. Nanthakumaran
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  2. P. M. King
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  3. T. S. Sinclair
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Correspondence to P. M. King.

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Nanthakumaran, S., King, P. & Sinclair, T. Laparoscopic excision of a triple gallbladder . Surg Endosc 17, 1323 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-002-4293-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-002-4293-3

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