A case of cholecystohepatic duct with atrophic common hepatic duct.
BACKGROUND
Cholecystohepatic ducts are rare congenital variants of the biliary tree.


METHODS
An 81-year-old woman presented with biliary colic and elevated liver function tests. An ERCP demonstrated a common bile duct stone and stricture of the common hepatic duct. An operative cholangiogram demonstrated an atrophic common hepatic duct and retrograde filling of the gallbladder through a large cholecystoheptic duct. The patient had a cholecystectomy and reconstructive cholecystohepatic duct jejunostomy.


CONCLUSIONS
This case demonstrates a rare congenital anomaly where the gallbladder fills retrograde during an intraoperative cholangiogram despite clipping of the cystic duct. The major path of biliary drainage was through a large cholecystoheptic duct similar to a gallbladder interposition; however, the common hepatic duct was still present but atrophic. This anomaly has not been described previously.
Schofield
A
A
Department of Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Hankins
J
J
Sutherland
F
F