Laparoscopic cholecystostomy tube-guided hepatotomy and cholecystolithotomy: alternative strategy for treatment of severe chronic cholecystitis.

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be a challenging procedure in gallbladders with chronic disease. We describe a patient with chronic cholecystitis and difficult visualisation of the gallbladder at surgery who underwent laparoscopic hepatotomy along the drainage tube of the cholecystostomy. In this way, the gallbladder was identified to avoid non-visualisation of ductal anatomy. This exceptional solution should be added to the surgical options if anatomical recognition is difficult and complete removal of the gallbladder is too risky.