Anomalies in biliary tree anatomy - own observations

Abstract

Cholelithiasis is one of the most frequent causes of operative treatment in the abdominal region. Intraoperative complications caused by an atypical course of the extrahepatic biliary tree may occur. In this study some of anatomical variations of the extrahepatic biliary system are reviewed. The authors describe the diagnostic and therapeutic process of a patient who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, complicated by the injury of the aberrant bile duct, draining bile from the 5th hepatic segment. A CholangioMRI examination was helpful to determine the diagnosis. Bile duct surgery demands a wide knowledge of the different variations of biliary tree anatomy and an awareness of the possible presence of accessory and aberrant ducts.