Case Report
Agenesis of gall bladder in laparoscopic cholecystectomy—A case report

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijscr.2017.06.054Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Agenesis of the gall bladder is extremely rare, A high index of suspicion is mandatory for diagnosis.

  • The awareness of physician, radiologist and the surgeons of the possibility of this condition and of the problems posed by it.

  • The surgeon to attempt confirmation of diagnosis, when suspected, by nonoperative methods.

  • Non-visualized gall bladder in laparoscopic cholecystectomy is challenging.

  • No extensive dissection was needed or change to open method unless you sure that the gall bladder is present.

Abstract

Introduction

Agenesis of gallbladder is a rare congenital anomaly of biliary tree that may be associated with other biliary and extra biliary congenital anomalies.

Case presentation

A 43- year- old female presented with a 4 months history of upper abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. It was associated with dyspeptic symptoms and become worse following ingestion of high-fat meal contents. Clinically, a differential of gall stone disease was considered. Ultrasonography of abdomen revealed a contracted gallbladder with multiple stones with normal wall thickness, so the fact of clinical diagnosis considering finding cholithiasis. She was submitted to laparoscopic exploration which revealed that the gall bladder was absent within gall bladder fossa.

Discussion

In this case, the differential of cholithiasis symptoms considered support by ultrasonography, symptomatic gall stones presented more than half of cases of gall bladder agenesis, Diagnosis of gall bladder disease usually done by ultrasound modality, it must be done by expert one. Awareness of this entity by clinicians, surgeons and radiologists are essential because many of these patients present with biliary symptoms and have unnecessary operations.

Conclusion

Agenesis of gallbladder should be kept in mind whenever the gall bladder was improperly visualized in routine imaging methods. Ultrasonography operated dependent we must not depend on single one or even multiple done by the same person. Avoid a needless surgical exploration, which might be risky. Non-visualized gall bladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomy is challenging should not convert to open unless sure that the gall bladder was present.

Keywords

Agenesis of gall bladder
Gallbladder diseases
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Ultrasound diagnosis
Unnecessary surgery
Conversion to open

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