Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and common bile duct exploration for cholecystocholedocholithiasis with a left-sided gallbladder: Report of a case

Abstract

A 75-year old woman was admitted to our hospital with right upper quadrant pain, vomiting, and jaundice. Laboratory findings showed elevated total bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, and C-reactive protein levels. Abdominal ultrasonography (US) and drip infusion cholangiographic computed tomography (DIC-CT) showed not only cholecystocholedocholithiasis, but a gallbladder located left of the round ligament and close to the lateral segments of the liver. We performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) with choledocholithotomy for suspected cholecystocholedocholithiasis with a left-sided gallbladder. Routine ports were inserted in the American configuration for LC. The gallbladder was normogradely separated from the gallbladder fossa, and the fundus of the gallbladder was lifted ventrally and toward to the patient's right shoulder. These procedures provided the usual view for laparoscopic choledochotomy. The patient recovered uneventfully and was discharged on postoperative day 10. To our knowledge, this is the first report of laparoscopic common bile exploration in a patient with a left-sided gallbladder.