1994 Volume 8 Issue 4 Pages 359-364
Variations of extrahepatic bile ducts were investigated with regard to gallbladder position, patterns of union in the porta hepatis, and patterns of the cystic duct, in order. In 1,090 patients, anomalous positions of the gallbladder were found on intraoperative inspection in 0.4%,1. e.,0.3%showed left-sided gallbladder and 0.1% showed agenesis of the gallbladder. In 213 patients who underwent direct cholangiography, a bifurcating pattern of union in the porta hepatis was demonstrated in 70 % but this pattern was absent in 30 %. Among those 213 patients, anomalous cystic ducts were found in 6 (3%) i. e.,1 with the cystic duct draining into the right hepatic duct,2draining into the lower portion of the common bile duct,3 draining into the left side of the common bile duct after running in front of the common bile duct (one of those 3 showed combination drainage into the lower portion of the common bile duct). One patient demonstrated a double cystic duct. Therefore, such patterns should receive attention during hepatobiliary surgery.
