Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy in Situs Inversus Totalis: A Case Report

Abstract

Situs inversus totalis is a rare condition characterized by the mirror image of the normal abdominal and thoracic viscera. Since the gallbladder is located in the left upper quadrant in this subset of patients, the diagnosis of symptomatic cholelithiasis poses a difficulty. Similarly, laparoscopic cholecystectomy in these patients is more demanding and presents technical challenges, especially for right-handed surgeons. Herein, we report a case of a 30-year-old female who was a known case of situs inversus totalis and was diagnosed with symptomatic cholelithiasis and subsequently underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy with an uneventful post-operative period. The challenge while performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy in patients with situs inversus totalis calls for appropriate perioperative preparation and necessary modifications in the operative setup for the safe and successful operation of the patient, which is discussed in this report.