title: Gallbladder duplication.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gallbladder duplication is a rare congenital malformation that occurs in about one in 4000 births. Congenital anomalies of the gallbladder and anatomical variations of their positions are associated with an increased risk of complications after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report the case of a double gallbladder in a fifty-six year old man. He presented with recurrent episodes of biliary colic. Pre-operative imaging confirmed the diagnosis. He subsequently underwent surgery for biliary colic.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Inspection of the resected gallbladder specimen showed that it consisted of two chambers with a single cystic duct, which communicated through a common ostium. Both chambers had cholelithiasis. There were two cystic arteries as well. Duplication of the gallbladder has an incidence of approximately 1: 4000. However, the exact incidence of this rare anomaly cannot be accurately assessed, since the only cases which have been identified are those that became symptomatic or were encountered as incidental findings during surgery, imaging studies or at autopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Duplication of the gallbladder is a rare congenital abnormality, which requires special attention to the biliary ductal and arterial anatomy. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy with intraoperative cholangiography is the appropriate treatment in a symptomatic gallbladder. The removal of an asymptomatic double gallbladder remains controversial.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Victoria Hospital, Prince Albert Parkland Health Region, Prince Albert S6V8C3, SK, Canada. Electronic address: yagan2pillay@yahoo.ca.
authors.forename: Yagan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Pillay
keywords: Cholecystectomy; Cholelithiasis; Congenital; Double gallbladder