title: An alternative surgical approach to a difficult case of Mirizzi syndrome: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Mirizzi syndrome (MS) is an uncommon complication of gallstone disease and occurs in approximately 1% of all patients suffering from cholelithiasis. The syndrome is characterized by extrinsic compression of the common hepatic duct frequently resulting in clinical presentation of intermittent or constant jaundice. Most cases are not identified preoperatively. Surgery is the indicated treatment for patients with MS. We report here a 71-year-old male patient referred to the surgical outpatient department for diffuse upper abdominal pain and mild jaundice (bilirubin rate: 4.2 mg/dL). Ultrasound examination revealed a stone in the cystic duct compressing the common hepatic duct. The patient had a history of gastrectomy for gastric ulcer 30 years ago. MRCP revealed a stone impacted in the cystic duct causing obstruction of the common hepatic duct by extrinsic compression. With these findings the preoperative diagnosis was indicative of MS. At laparotomy a moderately shrunken gallbladder was found embedded in adhesions containing a large stone which was palpable in the common bile duct. The anterior wall of the body of the gallbladder was opened by an incision which extended longitudinally along the gallbladder towards the common bile duct. The stone measuring 3.0 cm in diameter, was then removed setting astride a large communication with the common bile duct. A Roux-en-Y cholecysto-choledocho-jejunostomy was performed. The subhepatic region was drained. The patient had an uneventful recovery. He was discharged eleven days after operation and remained well after a 30-mo follow-up.
authors.affiliation: 2nd Department of Propeudeutic Surgery, Athens University School of Medicine, Laiko Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Safioleas
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stamatakos
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Revenas
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chatziconstantinou
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Safioleas
authors.forename: Alkiviades
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kostakis
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D000368:Aged; D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000601:surgery; D006500:Hepatic Duct, Common / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D041781:Jaundice, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D007582:Jejunostomy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D013577:Syndrome