Duplication of the Artery to the Cystic Duct: A Case Report of a Rare Anatomical Variation with Surgical Significance

Abstract

Anatomical variations of the cystic artery are frequently documented, but variations of the artery to the cystic duct are extremely uncommon. We report a rare duplication of the artery to the cystic duct, revealed during laparoscopic cholecystectomy on an 18-year-old Caucasian female treated for gallstone disease. Both arterial branches were meticulously and carefully retracted and cauterized to avoid bleeding and subsequent postoperative complications. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of an artery to the cystic duct duplication. The presence of congenital variations of the artery to the cystic duct encumbers surgical maneuvers and increases the potentiality of intraoperative injury and hemorrhage.

Keywords

• cystic duct
• anatomic variation
• cholecystectomy
• laparoscopic