Cholecystectomy in situs viscerum inversus totalis. Does laparoscopy increase the pitalls?

Abstract

Situs viscerum inversus is a rare condition in which the organs are transposed, totally or partially, to the opposite side of the body. Normally, there are no organ dysfunctions. Clinically, symptoms of cholelithiasis may be clear but confused by the location of the gallbladder on the opposite side. We report the case of a 43-year-old female with occasional colic pain in the epigastrium radiating to the right side and subscapular region, particularly after lunch. The laboratory findings showed normal values and, at physical examination, deep palpation of the abdomen in the epigastric region provoked pain. X-rays, ultrasonography, and CT scan showed the presence of multiple gallstones and the situs viscerum inversus of the abdominal organs. The only pathological finding was cholecystolithiasis. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was judged advisable. Situs viscerum inversus is not a contraindication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This abnormal anatomical condition may create some initial difficulty for the surgeons, because of the inverted position of the organs. The peculiarity of our case is the unlikely site of the abdominal pain, located in the epigastrium and on the right side although the patient had situs viscerum inversus. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be performed on the left-sided gallbladder proceeding with the "american technique". In difficult cases, open cholecystectomy can be unavoidable.