A Study on the Anomalies of Gallbladder and Associated Structures

The gallbladder is a piriform structure on the undersurface of liver. It collects bile from the liver to concentrate it and to store it. The gallbladder has a cystic duct which joins the common bile duct and through these ducts bile passes into the duodenum. There is usually a single gallbladder (arising from the cystic bud of hepatic diverticulum) with one cystic duct supplied by a cystic artery taking origin from the right hepatic artery. But in few persons there are double gallbladder or double cystic ducts or different variations in the origin and course of cystic arteries. A study was undertaken in 2006 to detect the anomalies of these structures among the people Kolkata (a metropolis of eastern part of India), by dissection of cadavers. This study was conducted from the year 2006 to 2009 in the Department of Anatomy of Calcutta National Medical College and in other medical colleges of Kolkata. Three cases of double gallbladder and few other variations like double cystic duct were found in this study. These findings will help the clinicians (specially the surgeons, radiologists of the eastern part of India) to undertake any investigative or surgical procedure in the region of extra hepatic biliary apparatus. This study will enhance our knowledge not only surgical Anatomy, but also in embryology and in gross anatomy.     

Surgical anatomy of the vasculobiliary apparatus at the hepatic hilum as applied to liver transplantations and major liver resections

Introduction

To evaluate the hepatic arterial, bile duct and portal venous anatomy as applicable to major liver resections.

胆道造影检查在腹腔镜胆囊切除术中的应用

目的探讨腹腔镜胆囊切除术中经胆囊管胆道造影的临床价值。方法通过对58例Lc术中经IOC的病人临床资料进行回顾性分析。结果本组病例成功55例,占94．83％,失败3例,占5．17％。50例胆总管未发现结石,占90．91％,发现胆总管小结石（0．4cm）5例,占9．09％。其中4例经中转开腹行胆道探查,1例经腹腔镜胆总管切开胆纤镜网篮取石。胆囊管汇入右肝管1例。全组病例无胆道损伤、胆总管结石残留、胆漏、腹腔感染及IOC相关并发症。结论LC术中行IOC操作简单易行,成功率高,显影效果好,能及时发现胆道解剖变异;对基层医院减少胆道阴性探查、术中胆道损伤、术后胆总管结石残留等具有重要的临床应用价值。     

The clinical anatomy of cystic artery variations: a review of over 9800 cases

Purpose

While laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be a routine procedure when biliary anatomy is normally located, cystic artery variations can easily disorientate the inexperienced surgeon to the anatomy of the hepatobiliary triangle. This study presents the clinically important anatomical variations of the cystic artery.

Methods

PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, and Google Scholar databases were searched to conduct a review of the existing English literature on the clinically important cystic artery variations. An aberrant vessel was defined as a vessel that originated from an atypical source and/or one that was present in a specimen in addition to the normal vessel.

Results

The cystic artery originated typically from the right hepatic artery (79.02 %) and was found in the hepatobiliary triangle in only 5427 of 6661 (81.5 %) cases. Clinically important cystic artery variations are (1) the cystic artery located anterior to the common hepatic duct or common bile duct found in 485 of 2704 (17.9 %) and 228 of 4202 (5.4 %) of cases, respectively, (2) the cystic artery located inferior to the cystic duct found in 38 of 770 (4.9 %) of cases, (3) short cystic arteries found in 98 of 1037 (9.5 %) cases and (4) multiple cystic arteries found in (8.9 %) of cases.

Conclusion

These variations are common in the general population and can lead to inadvertent ligation of biliary ducts or aberrant vessels. Therefore, it is important for the hepatobiliary surgeon to be aware of these vascular anomalies to avoid operative complications.

     

Congenital anatomical abnormalities of the extrahepatic biliary duct: a personal audit

Awareness of variations in the anatomy of extrahepatic bile ducts may be important in preventing iatrogenic injury to the duct system during cholecystectomy. Their delineation, before or during surgery is therefore considered mandatory in this surgical unit, and a policy of always performing a per-operative cholangiogram has allowed us to evaluate the duct system in a retrospective review of 2080 cases. Twelve surgically significant anatomical variations were found, consisting of absent cystic duct (three cases), abnormal termination of cystic duct (two into the right hepatic duct, and one into the left hepatic duct), one case of double cystic duct, and five cases of significant accessory bile ducts.     

One duct,two orifices,no names! the anatomy of the biliary cystic duct

The biliary cystic duct (CD) connects the gallbladder to the extra‐hepatic bile duct, and the point at which it does this delineates the division between the common hepatic duct and the common bile duct. Its clinical relevance in disease, and importance during interventions relating to the gallbladder mean that its normal and variant anatomy has been described extensively in literature. However, an aspect not yet fully described includes naming of its two orifices on either end. This is highly relevant for surgical, endoscopic, and percutaneous procedures. We describe these as encountered in normal CD and biliary tree anatomy. We believe this is crucial for interventions relating to the gallbladder and the biliary tree, including prevention of iatrogenic injury. Clin. Anat. 31:422–423, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Congenital anatomical abnormalities of the extrahepatic biliary duct: a personal audit

Summary Awareness of variations in the anatomy of extrahepatic bile ducts may be important in preventing iatrogenic injury to the duct system during cholecystectomy. Their delineation, before or during surgery is therefore considered mandatory in this surgical unit, and a policy of always performing a per-operative cholangiogram has allowed us to evaluate the duct system in a retrospective review of 2080 cases. Twelve surgically significant anatomical variations were found, consisting of absent cystic duct (three cases), abnormal termination of cystic duct (two into the right hepatic duct, and one into the left hepatic duct), one case of double cystic duct, and five cases of significant accessory bile ducts.

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Anomalies congénitales des voies biliaires extra-hépatiques : évaluation d'une expérience

Résumé La connaissance des variations anatomiques des voies biliaires extra-hépatiques est un élément important pour la prévention des plaies biliaires iatrogènes au cours de la cholecystectomie. Leur recherche systématique préopératoire ou peropératoire est donc exigée dans notre pratique chirurgicale et le recours systématique à une cholangiographie per-opératoire a permis d'étudier les variations des canaux biliaires dans une étude rétrospective de 2080 cas. Douze types de variations canalaires avec incidence chirurgicale ont été découverts : l'absence de conduit cystique (trois cas), la terminaison anormale du conduit cystique (deux fois dans le canal hépatique droit, une fois dans le canal hépatique gauche), un cas de dédoublement du conduit cystique et cinq cas de canaux biliaires accessoires.

     

胆囊三角局部解剖和胆囊切除术

目的 本文观察胆囊三角局部解剖与胆囊切除术的关系。方法 总结近年来作者所施行的543例胆囊切除术。结果 胆囊管的汇合方式呈角型占84.9％,平行型占8.8％,其他占6.3％。胆囊动脉的起源来自右肝动脉占80％。副肝管的出现率是4.3％。结论 胆囊三角局部解剖对胆囊切除术是很重要的,掌握胆囊三角的局部解剖,弄清胆囊动脉、胆囊管与肝总管三者之间的关系,是手术成功的关键,并时常想到胆囊三角区结构变异的可能,就会预防术后发生并发症。     

肝外胆道的临床应用解剖学观测

目的观测肝外胆道解剖结构，为临床肝外胆道手术提供形态学依据。方法解剖30具甲醛固定的成人尸体．观察肝外胆道的形态，测量肝外胆道的外径、长度及各管道之间的夹角。结果肝左管细、直、略短，与肝总管延长线夹角较小；肝右管粗、斜、略长，与肝总管延长线夹角较大；肝左、右管汇合点距肝门较近；副肝管出现率高，胆囊下肝管较少见；胆囊管、肝总管汇合方式多为角形或平行型。在横断面上，胆囊纵轴与过脊柱椎体中心的水平线夹角约为45°。结论肝外胆道变异较多，手术者只有熟悉掌握肝外胆道手术正常解剖结构并了解可能出现的变异，才能减少术中胆道损伤。     

3-T MRI of the biliary tract variations

Purpose

The gallbladder and the biliary tract are structures in close connection with the adjacent organs and may show a number of variations and anomalies. It is therefore important for surgical purposes to know their anatomy and variations in detail. Various methods are used in the imaging of the variations of the biliary tract and its pathologies, including ultrasonography, computed tomography; direct cholangiographic methods like endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, intravenous cholangiography and T-tube cholangiography, as well as indirect methods like magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) or cholescintigraphy. The aim of this study is to investigate the frequency of the anatomic variations of the biliary tract using 3-T MRCP and to compare the findings with the data in the literature.

Materials and methods

For the purposes of this study, patients who underwent MRCP at our hospital (Dicle University Hospital) between November 2009 and February 2012 were investigated retrospectively. A total of 590 patients (between 6 and 88 years of age; mean age: 51 ± 9 years) were included in the study. The MRCP imaging was carried out with an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) device supplied with 3-T magnetic power and by obtaining T2-weighted images through the single-shot fast spin echo technique using the standard body coil. The axial and coronal source images and the reformatted images were evaluated together in terms of the possible anatomic variations.

Results

Among the 590 patients included in the study, of 233 (39.5 %) showed anatomic variations at different levels in the intra- and extrahepatic biliary tracts. Among these variations, a right posterior hepatic duct insertion to the left hepatic duct at the level of the bifurcation has been observed in 71 patients (12.1 %), trifurcation was observed in 30 patients (5.1 %) and insertion into the main hepatic duct at the proximal aspect of the cystic duct was observed in 18 patients (3.1 %). At the level of the cystic duct, medial insertion of the cystic duct was viewed in 58 patients (9.8 %), distal medial insertion was seen in 40 patients (6.8 %), a short cystic duct was detected in 10 patients (1.7 %), pancreatobiliary junction anomaly was viewed in two patients (0.4 %) and duplicate anatomic variations have been observed in 42 patients (7.2 %).

Conclusion

MRCP studies conducted using 3-T MRI devices may reveal similar or greater numbers of variations when compared to the existing MRCP studies in the literature. 3-T MRI shows a couple of variations. Pointing out these anatomical variations before the surgical intervention may prevent possible iatrogenic traumas. Donors with unsuitable variations for liver transplant may be spotted out at an early phase through the MRCP and certain operations with a high morbidity rate may thus be avoided.     

Management strategy for congenital choledochal cyst with co-existing intrahepatic dilation and aberrant bile duct as well as other complicated biliary anomalies

The purpose of this study was to investigate and discuss imaging methods and management strategies for congenital choledochal cyst with co-existing intrahepatic dilation and aberrant bile duct as well as other complicated biliary anomalies. In this study we reviewed and analyzed 72 patients with congenital choledochal cyst, ranging in age from 15 days to 12 years old and who were seen at our hospital during the past 12 years, from January 1993 to October 2005. The image manifestation and clinical significance of patients with co- existing intrahepatic biliary dilation and aberrant bile duct were carefully examined during operation via MRCP, cholangiography and choledochoscope. Twenty-two cases (30.1%) presented with intrahepatic bile duct dilation and 12 of these were of the cystic type. That is, the orifice of the dilated intrahepatic tract that converged into the common hepatic duct showed membrane or septum-like stenosis. In 10 cases the dilation tapered off from the porta hepatis to the initiating terminals of the intra-hepatic bile ducts and was not accompanied by stenosis. An aberrant bile duct was observed in 2 of the cases. In 3 cases, the right and left hepatic ducts converged at the choledochal cyst. In conclusion, the imaging methods for intrahepatic bile duct dilation possess important clinical significance. Further, for hepatojejunostomy with radical excision of a choledochal cyst, additional operative procedures for intrahepatic stenosis, possible bile duct malformation and pancreaticobiliary common duct calculi can potentially reduce postoperative complications.     

Cystic malformations of the cystic duct

Summary While cystic malformations of the main biliary tract are wellknown and classified, it is exceptional to find cystic malformations of the accessory biliary tract (cystic duct). An adolescent aged 15 years and an adult of 49 years were operated for cysts of the cystic duct revealed by associated lesions, a cyst of the common bile-duct and gallbladder stones respectively. Ultrasonography showed cystic lesions which opacification during intravenous cholangiography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography (EPRC) proved to be related to the cystic duct. The radiography outline of the biliary pathways so obtained served as a guide to the operative procedure, consisting of excision of the accessory biliary tract in both cases combined with resection of the common bile-duct cyst in one case. The radiologic, anatomic and histologic findings distinguished the lesions encountered from other malformations of the accessory biliary tract and confirmed their derivation from the cystic duct.

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Malformations kystiques du canal cystique

Résumé Si les malformations kystiques de la voie biliaire principale sont bien connues et classées, il est exceptionnel d'observer des malformations kystiques de la voie biliaire accessoire portant sur le canal cystique. Un adolescent de 15 ans et un adulte de 49 ans ont été opérés pour kyste du canal cystique révélés par des lésions associées, respectivement un kyste du cholédoque et une lithiase vésiculaire. L'échographie a découvert les lésions kystiques que les opacifications au cours de la cholangiographie intra-veineuse et de la cholangiographie rétrograde endoscopique (CREP) ont permis de rapporter au canal cystique. La carte biliaire radiologique ainsi obtenue a guidé le geste opératoire consistant dans les deux cas en une exérèse de la voie biliaire accessoire avec résection dans un cas du kyste cholédocien associé. Les données radiologiques, anatomiques et histologiques permettent de distinguer les lésions rencontrées des autres malformations de la voie biliaire accessoire et d'affirmer l'appartenance au canal cystique de ces lésions kystiques.

     

活体造影法肝内胆管的解剖学研究及临床意义

目的　通过经皮胆道直接造影,研究肝内胆管的解剖与变异的类型与分布。 方法　经皮胆道造影50例, 用20 ml注射器接体外引流管进行造影,胆管充分显影的状态下,旋转拍摄胆管,观察胆管解剖与变异。 结果　50例成像中胆管变异42.0％（21例）。12.0% (6例)显示右前叶肝管、右后叶肝管及肝左管呈三分叉状汇合形成肝总管。8.0% (4例) 肝左管先和右前叶肝管汇合,在肝门处与右后叶肝管汇合。20.0% (10例) 肝左管先和右后叶肝管汇合,在肝门处与右前叶肝管汇合。2.0% (1例)多个肝管在肝门处汇合。 结论　胆管解剖与变异的分析对术前手术方式的确定有一定的临床意义。     

Variant anatomy of the cystic artery in adult Kenyans

Knowledge of the variant vascular anatomy of the subhepatic region is important for hepatobiliary surgeons in limiting operative complications due to unexpected bleeding. The pattern of arterial blood supply of 102 gallbladders was studied by gross dissection. The cystic artery originated from the right hepatic artery in 92.2% of cases. The rest were aberrant and originated from the proper hepatic artery. Accessory arteries were observed to originate from proper hepatic artery (n = 5), left hepatic artery (n = 2), and right hepatic artery (n = 1). Most of the arteries approached the gallbladder in relation to the common hepatic duct (anterior 45.1%, posterior, 46.1%). The other vessels passed anterior to common bile duct (2.9%), posterior to common bile duct (3.9%), or were given off in Calot's triangle. Cystic arteries in this data set show wide variations in terms of relationship to the duct systems. In about one tenth of patients, an accessory cystic artery may need to be ligated or clipped during cholecystectomy.     

Bulldog夹在三孔法腹腔镜保胆取石术中的应用分析

目的 探讨Bulldog夹在三孔法腹腔镜保胆石取石术中的应用价值。方法 回顾2014年7月~2016年 8月华中科技大学同济医学院附属中西医结合医院接受三孔法腹腔镜保胆取石术病例36例,术中均于胆道镜取石操作前采用Bulldog夹临时阻断胆囊管,观察并记录结石标本的性状、分布和数量,检测术后肝功能及炎症反应情况,并对手术前后胆囊声像学表现进行评估。结果 所有36例患者均顺利完成手术操作,其中小胆石者（<0.3 cm）占22.22%,胆色素结石者占52.78%,胆道镜证实胆囊管结石者为13.89%。术后第3天,观察组平均TBIL、DBIL、ALP均处于正常范围内,PCT及CRP水平亦未超过正常值上限;与术前相比,术后2月彩超复查胆囊壁厚度（2.37±1.42 mm vs 2.25±0.72 mm）,无统计学差异(P>0.05),且未发现胆囊腔内残石及胆管扩张病例。结论 Bulldog钳可以作为安全有效的胆囊管暂时阻断器械应用于GPLC术中,在提高胆囊管结石清除率的同时,有效防止胆石溢入胆总管,且不会增加术后胆囊炎、胆囊动脉损伤风险。     

Bile duct anatomy of the Anatolian Caucasian population: Huang classification revisited

Background and objectives  Living donor liver transplantations (LDLT) donor candidates are being assessed with MRCP (magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography) to identify their suitability for standard surgical techniques. Variations of the bile duct anatomy play an important role in donor selection and in the selection of the resection technique. If bile duct anatomy is misrecognized, complications may occur. Anatomic variations are classified according to the origin of the right posterior hepatic duct (RPHD). According to the so called Huang classification, type A1 is the most, and type A5 is the least frequent variation. These frequencies were initially validated on Chinese population. Later studies revealed significant variability in frequency for the so called trifurcation, the variation in which a common junction of RHPD, right anterior hepatic duct (RAHD) and left hepatic duct (LHD) (A2) exists. In this study we aimed to determine the bile duct anatomy variations for the Anatolian Caucasians. Methods  One hundred and thirty-four healthy subjects were investigated under 1.5 T MRI, with breath-hold (expiration) heavily T2-weighted turbo spin echo (TSE) static fluid imaging (TR/TE = 8,000/800). The sequence has permitted three to five oblique coronal thick sections (40 mm) around a common axis. Sequences were repeated until anatomically interpretable images were obtained. Diagnostic images could not be obtained in 22 subjects. Radiologists who were fully experienced in LDLT assessment investigated these images, and classified them for the surgical variations of the bile duct anatomy. Results  One hundred and twelve subjects (58 men, 54 women) who were classified were between 14 and 81 years of age (mean: 39.3; SD 14.1). According to Huang classification, 61 of them (55%) were classified as type A1 (normal right and left hepatic duct junction), 16 (14%) as type A2 (common junction of RAHD, RHPD and LHD), 24 (21%) as type A3 (aberrant drainage of RPHD to left main duct), and 11 (10%) as type A4 (aberrant drainage of RPHD to main hepatic duct). When subjects, in whom the distance (d) between RPHD insertion and the right and left hepatic duct junction is less than 1 cm, are classified as type A2, the type A1 prevalence decreases to 28%. For the entire population that distance was between 3 and 25 mm (mean: 9.8, SD: 4.8). Accordingly, the frequency of type A1 anatomy was 8–29% lower than the respective frequency in Chinese population. Conclusion  From the surgical perspective, close proximity (d < 1 cm) of RPHD to right and left hepatic duct junction is considered as type A2 variation. According to that concept, type A1, usually accepted as the dominant anatomic variation, is encountered only in 28% of the Anatolian Caucasians. We have proposed a modified surgical classification in which Huang type 2 was subdivided into types K2a (close proximity) and K2b (trifurcating). The predominance of K2 types in the population of the study may necessitate the use of bench ductoplasty in many liver grafts.     

胆囊结石术中经胆囊管胆道造影的临床分析

目的：探讨胆囊切除术中行胆囊管胆道造影的临床意义。方法：回顾性分析254例行胆囊切除术患者的临床资料,其中89例术中行胆囊管造影,165例未行造影。结果：89例术中行胆囊管造影,术中发现胆总管结石9例（10．11％）、胆总管隐匿性损伤2例（2．2％）,术后随访3～6月发现胆道残余结石3例（3．37％）;165例术中未行胆囊管造影,术中发现胆总管结石4例（2．42％）,术后出现胆道损伤3例（1．82％）,术后随访3～6月发现胆道残余结石14例（8．5％）。结论：对既往有胰腺炎、黄疸病史及术前B超检查胆总管增粗等胆囊结石患者,术中行胆道造影可降低胆道残余结石发生率,减少和发现胆道损伤,避免不必要的阴性胆总管探查。     

Anatomical assessment of bile ducts of Luschka in human fetuses

Bile ducts of Luschka (also called subvesical or supravesicular ducts) can cause bile leakage during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, especially if surgery is carried out in ignorance of such variations. The aim of this study was to clarify the clinical anatomy of these ducts in human fetuses and frequency of the ducts locating near gallbladder fossa. Thirty-two fetal cadaver livers were dissected and the gallbladders were separated from the livers and ducts were investigated under a surgical microscope. All observed ducts were examined microscopically and connective tissue cords were excluded. Bile ducts of Luschka locating near cystic fossa were found in 7 of 32 fetuses (21.9%). Three of the seven ducts ran towards to liver segment 5 (S5); three ducts were found in the gallbladder fossa; and one duct ran towards to liver segment 4 (S4). Also it was found that three of the seven ducts drained into the subsegmental duct of S5, two ducts drained into the right hepatic duct, one duct drained into the right anterior branch bile duct, and one duct drained into the subsegmental duct of S4. Subvesical ducts running along the gallbladder fossa between the gallbladder and the liver parenchyma were found in a relatively high incidence in fetuses than adults. Awareness and knowledge about incidence of such ducts alerts the surgeon during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Therefore morbidity due to bile leaks can be reduced.