Left-sided gallbladder (Sinistroposition) encountered during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A rare case report and review of the literature

Menelaos Zoulamoglou; Ioannis Flessas; Maria Zarokosta; Theodoros Piperos; Ioannis Papapanagiotou; Konstantinos Birbas; Evangelos Konstantinou; Theodoros Mariolis-Sapsakos

doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.01.011

Left-sided gallbladder (Sinistroposition) encountered during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A rare case report and review of the literature

Int J Surg Case Rep. 2017:31:65-67. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.01.011. Epub 2017 Jan 7.

Authors

Menelaos Zoulamoglou¹, Ioannis Flessas², Maria Zarokosta³, Theodoros Piperos⁴, Ioannis Papapanagiotou², Konstantinos Birbas¹, Evangelos Konstantinou¹, Theodoros Mariolis-Sapsakos⁴

Affiliations

¹ University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece.
² Anatomy and Histology Laboratory, Nursing School, University of Athens, Greece.
³ University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece; Anatomy and Histology Laboratory, Nursing School, University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: mzarokosta@gmail.com.
⁴ University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece; Anatomy and Histology Laboratory, Nursing School, University of Athens, Greece.

Abstract

Introduction: True Left-sided gallbladder (LSG) is a rare anatomical variation with a prevalence of 0.3%. Mainly discovered during the operation, its surgical approach in the laparoscopic setting may be challenging even for an experienced surgeon.

Presentation of case: LSG was unexpectedly discovered in a young man during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There were no pre-operative indications of this sinistroposition. The laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed with minor surgical modifications and it was uneventful. A meticulous review of recent literature about LSGs was conducted as well.

Discussion: LSG is a scarce anatomical aberration that is difficultly identified pre-operatively. Surgeons should be aware of this aberration and of its accompanying anatomical variations in order to perform a safe laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

Conclusion: Surgeons, by placing the patient to left-side up position, are able to expose the Calot's triangle and possible accompanying anatomical anomalies and thus perform a safe laparoscopic cholecystectomy without difficult surgical modifications.

Keywords: Left-sided gallbladder; Left-sided gallbladder laparoscopic cholecystectomy case report; Sinistroposition gallbladder.