“Iatrogenic bile duct injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality following laparoscopic cholecystectomy, occurring in 0.5–1.4% of cases. The presence of variant biliary anatomy increases the risk of such injuries. Prior studies have estimated that 19–39% of the population have anatomic variations of the biliary tree. These aberrant ducts can be mistaken for the cystic duct and clipped or cauterized inadvertently.”

“Anomalous right posterior sectoral ducts represent the most common anatomic variant of the biliary tract. Ligation of this duct, which provides the only drainage to hepatic segments 6 and 7, can lead to bile leak or biloma and present with pain, cholangitis, or peritonitis. This anatomic variant is of considerable interest, both due to an increased likelihood of injury during cholecystectomy and because this type of injury presents a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge.”

Mazer, Laura M et al. “Non-operative management of right posterior sectoral duct injury following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.” Journal of gastrointestinal surgery : official journal of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract vol. 15,7 (2011): 1237-42. doi:10.1007/s11605-011-1455-4 Emory community access request through ILLiad