Management of an unsuspected double gall bladder

Abstract

Gall bladder duplication is a rare congenital anomaly that is often asymptomatic and frequently goes undiagnosed until surgery. We present the case of a 47-year-old female who reported abdominal pain, vomiting, loss of appetite and generalised weakness. Initial imaging, including ultrasound and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, identified cholelithiasis but did not reveal the presence of a duplicated gall bladder. During a laparoscopic cholecystectomy, a double gall bladder with two separate cystic ducts was unexpectedly discovered. Both gall bladders were successfully removed using standard laparoscopic techniques. Histopathological examination confirmed chronic cholecystitis in both specimens. This case highlights the challenges in pre-operative diagnosis of biliary anomalies and underscores the importance of intraoperative vigilance.