A Brief Case Study on Anatomical Variations in the Extra Hepatic Biliary System

For many years, the anatomy of the biliary system has been the focus of much research. Due to their surgical importance in cholecystectomies and the simplicity with which they can be researched, they have received a lot of attention. Though there has been a lot of interest in the extrahepatic bile ducts, there have been very few research in the Indian subcontinent. The goal was to look at the anatomical differences in the extrahepatic biliary system in Indian cadaveric specimens.

Twenty adult dissecting room cadavers and 30 enbloc post-mortem specimens were used in the study. From the dissection room, cadaver specimens were examined. The Department of Forensic Medicine, Madurai Medical College, Madurai, provided post-mortem enbloc specimens. They were dissected and studied in the conventional way.

The abnormal arrangement of structures in the hepatoduodenal duct was normal in 98 percent of the individuals, but abnormal in 2%. Accessory ducts were found in 14 percent of the specimens. In 2% of the individuals, both a double and an auxiliary cystic artery were discovered. The cystic artery showed an irregular course and division in 8% of the individuals. In 4% of the individuals, the right hepatic artery had an irregular course and division. Calot's triangle boundaries were found to be abnormal in 2% of the individuals. Accessory hepatic ducts are found abnormally in ten percent of Calot's triangle cases. Extrahepatic biliary system anatomical differences are prevalent, and surgeons must have a thorough awareness of them in order to prevent damaging vital structures during surgical procedures and achieve better surgical outcomes