Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient with Kartagener syndrome having multiple cystic arteries: a case report

Introduction and importance: Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare condition that involves transposition of thoracic and abdominal viscera. It is associated with Kartagener syndrome (KS) that comprises a triad of SIT, bronchiectasis, and chronic sinusitis. Considering this anatomical variation, it poses a technical challenge for right-handed surgeons performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This is the only case report for a patient having KS presenting for cholelithiasis found to have multiple cystic arteries during surgery. Case presentation: A 55-year-old man with KS, known to have bronchiectasis, presented with nonspecific diffuse upper abdominal pain and positive murphy sign on the left. Biliary colic with cholelithiasis was diagnosed using ultrasound of the abdomen. The patient was admitted to the surgical floor for persistent biliary colic and was planned for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The cholecystectomy was done by a single right-handed surgeon, and the patient was discharged on the next day. Clinical discussion: The American laparoscopic cholecystectomy technique with reversed mirror-image of routine laparoscopic cholecystectomy port sites was adopted. The operative team including the operating surgeon and camera operator were on the patient’s right side, and the laparoscopic devices with the technician nurse were located on the left side for safer dissection and easier access to the different structures. The procedure was complicated by the Calot triangle anatomy variation along with the presence of three cystic arteries and one cystic duct. The surgery was completed within 50 minutes, a shorter duration compared to other reported cases. Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with SIT is a challenging, technically demanding procedure due to anatomical inversion and structural variations. The surgeon must modify various technical steps to perform this procedure successfully and dissect the gallbladder and its structures. A good knowledge of anatomy and a skillful dissection intraoperatively remain the gold standards for a successful outcome with minimal complications.