| Abstract: | An alternative to cholecystostomy and standard cholecystectomy for ‘difficult’ gall bladders has been described previously. The procesured, partial cholecystectomy, involves leaving in situ part or all of the wall of the gall bladder which lies directly in relation to the liver and/or structures in the porta hepatis. Eleven such procedures have been performed over a 5 year period, and the common indication in all was severe inflammation or fibrosis in the region of Clot's triangle. One patient developed a self-limiting postoperative bile leak. One patient has formed bile duct stones and appears to have oriental cholangiohepatitis. In the remainder of the patients, there has been no recurrence of biliary tract symptoms. The procedures id definitive and safe, and may usually be performed when cholencystostomy would have been undertaken. |
