Duplicated gallbladder with stones: Rare anomaly of the biliary system

• Published in: International journal of surgery case reports Vol. 122; p. 110106
• Main Authors: Robele, Tsion Ketema, Mulugeta, Simeon, Knfe, Goytom, Dagne, Dagmawi, Shiferaw, Enku
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier Ltd 01-09-2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anomalous gallbladder; Case Report; Double gallbladder; Open cholecystectomy; Case report; Double gallbladder; Open cholecystectomy; Anomalous gallbladder
• ISSN: 2210-2612; 2210-2612
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2024.110106

Duplication of the gallbladder is a rare congenital anomaly of the biliary system and is associated with an increased risk of complications such as bile duct injury during cholecystectomy.
A 40-year-old woman was admitted for symptomatic cholelithiasis. All preoperative workups were normal, except for an abdominal ultrasound which reported of gallstones. However, during the open cholecystectomy, duplicated gallbladder was an intraoperative surprise. Both gallbladders were successfully removed, and the patient had a smooth recovery without any complications.
The presence of a duplicated gallbladder necessitates careful consideration of the biliary ductal and arterial anatomy anomaly to prevent complications during cholecystectomy. While ultrasound is typically used as an initial diagnostic tool for suspected duplicated gallbladder, it can miss the diagnosis of duplicated gallbladder. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the preferred method of treatment in an ideal surgical setting.
Duplication of the gallbladder requires special attention to the biliary ductal and arterial anatomy. Preoperative imaging should be helpful for diagnosis.
•Duplicated gallbladder, a congenital malformation characterized by the presence of two distinct gallbladders, is an exceptionally uncommon aberration of the biliary system•There are no specific symptoms or signs associated with duplicate gallbladders•Abdominal ultrasound (US) is often the first-line imaging modality used in the assessment of a patient with gallbladder disease; however, it does not always allow a precise diagnosis of gallbladder malformations.•The presence of duplicated gallbladder poses unique challenges during surgical interventions such as cholecystectomy, as it is associated with an increased risk of complications, including bile duct injury•Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the mainstay of treatment in an ideal setup.