title: Aberrant subvesical bile ducts identified during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: A rare case report and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aberrant subvesical bile ducts are a scarce anatomical variation, consisted by a network of bile ducts located in the peri-hepatic capsule of the gallbladder fossa. These rare ducts are usually discovered intraoperatively and their presence poses the risk of bile injury and clinically significant bile leak.
  
  
  METHODS
  Aberrant subvesical bile ducts were unexpectedly identified in a young woman during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. These three ducts were clipped carefully for avoidance of bile duct injury and subsequent bile leak. The operation was uneventful. A meticulous review of the recent literature was conducted as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This unusual anatomical variation of the biliary tract is mainly discovered during the operation. Thus, surgical injury of these ducts is nearly inevitable and it provokes the severe complication of bile leak. Bile injury represents the most crucial and life-threatening postoperative complication of cholecystectomies. Surgeons in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen should be constantly aware of this rare anatomical variation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Aberrant subvesical bile ducts are associated with a high risk of surgical bile duct injury. Nevertheless, meticulous operative technique combined with surgeons' perpetual awareness concerning this peculiar anatomical aberration leads to a safe laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece; Anatomy and Histology Laboratory, Nursing School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mariolis-Sapsakos
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece; Anatomy and Histology Laboratory, Nursing School, University of Athens, Greece. Electronic address: mzarokos@nurs.uoa.gr.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zarokosta
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Menelaos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zoulamoglou
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece; Anatomy and Histology Laboratory, Nursing School, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Theodoros
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Piperos
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papapanagiotou
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larisa, Greece.
authors.forename: Markos
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sgantzos
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Birbas
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, General and Oncologic Hospital of Kifissia "Agii Anargiri", Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kaklamanos
keywords: Accessory bile duct; Bile leak; Duct of Luschka; Laparoscopic cholecystectomy; Subvesical bile duct; Subvesical bile duct case report