AGENESIS OF THE GALLBLADDER FOUND AT LAPAROSCOPY FOR CHOLECYSTECTOMY - AN UNPLEASANT SURPRISE

Gallbladder agenesis is a rare condition that results from the failure of the cystic bud to develop in the 4th wk of intrauterine life. Agen esis is usually discovered at laparotomy for cholecystectomy since ult rasound examination of a patient with suggestive symptoms not visualiz ing the gallbladder is compatible with chronic cholecystitis (shrunken gallbladder). The surgeon must prove agenesis by thoroughly examining the most common sites for ectopic gallbladders and by performing intr aoperative cholangiograms, For unexplained reasons, most of the patien ts become asymptomatic after the operation, We present a new case of a dult agenesis of the gallbladder in a patient who was taken to laparos copic cholecystectomy for presumptive cholelithiasis.