CONGENITAL ABSENCE OF THE GALLBLADDER - WAYS OF AVOIDING LAPAROTOMY

Two cases of congenital absence (agenesis) of the gallbladder seen at one hospital over a 5-year period are presented. One patient presented with ascending cholangitis due to choledocholithiasis, while the othe r presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain and equivocal fin dings on ultrasound and oral cholecystography. Although diagnosis was made at laparotomy in both cases, it is likely that the arrival of lap aroscopic cholecystectomy will avoid laparotomy in the future. The pla ce of laparoscopy in establishing the presence of this anomaly is disc ussed.