Cholecystohepatic duct detected during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a case report

BACKGROUND: The cholecystohepatic duct is a rare form of an aberrant hepatic duct that connects to the gallbladder. Although cholecystohepatic duct is reported to be a very rare anomaly, injury of cholecystohepatic duct during cholecystectomy may result in serious complications. Herein, we present a case of cholecystohepatic duct in the ventral branch of the right posterior inferior segmental bile duct detected during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. CASE PRESENTATION: A 77-year-old woman with cholecystolithiasis had been referred to our hospital for surgery. Drip infusion cholecystocholangiography-computed tomography revealed a bile duct branch without communication between the intra- and extrabiliary systems, although the existence of this aberrant hepatic duct was not suspected preoperatively. A 4-port laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed. After critical view of safety was confirmed, the cystic artery and duct were divided after double clipping. During antegrade mobilization of the gallbladder from the gallbladder bed, a thin, white cord-like material connecting the gallbladder neck and bed was detected. After clipping and dividing it, a cholecystohepatic duct injury was recognized through rechecking the results of the preoperative examinations. Biliary reconstruction was considered unnecessary because of the lesion’s small drainage area. The postoperative course was uneventful, and an enhanced computed tomography performed 6 months after the surgery revealed a dilation in the ventral branch of the right posterior inferior segmental bile duct. The patient’s liver function remained normal, and she had no symptoms of cholangitis 42 months after the surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although cholecystohepatic duct is a rare anomaly compared to other aberrant hepatic ducts, surgeons performing cholecystectomy should always keep its existence in mind to avoid serious postoperative complications. Ideally, preoperative detection of cholecystohepatic duct is preferable, but even if it is detected during surgery, the appropriate management according to the drainage area is also important.