Surgical approach to a left-sided gallbladder

Biliary colic is a pain in the right upper quadrant or epigastrium thought to be caused by functional gallbladder spasm from a temporary obstructing stone in the gallbladder neck, cystic duct or common bile duct.A 56-year-old man presented with frequent episodes of typical biliary colic. At initial laparoscopy, the gallbladder was absent from its anatomic location. Further inspection revealed a left-sided gallbladder (LSGB), suspended from liver segment 3. Preoperative ultrasound, the most common imaging modality for symptomatic gallstones, has a low positive predictive value for detecting LSGB (2.7%). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) was delayed to attain additional imaging. A magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography demonstrated the gallbladder left of the falciform ligament with the cystic duct entering the common hepatic duct from the left. The patient underwent an elective LC 8 weeks later. The critical view of safety is paramount to safe surgical dissection and could be safely achieved for LSGB