Cholecystojejunostomy After Subtotal Cholecystectomy in a Dog with Extrahepatic Bile Duct Obstruction

A 10-year and 8-month-old male beagle with vomiting, anorexia and icterus presented to our veterinary hospital. Based on ultrasonography of the abdominal cavity and blood laboratory testing, the dog was diagnosed with gallbladder mucoceles accompanied by extrahepatic biliary obstruction. Because medical treatments did not effectively improve the dog’s clinical symptoms, surgical treatment was scheduled. An experimental laparotomy showed a large dilated and slightly white discolored gallbladder and a marked dilated extrahepatic bile duct. Total cholecystectomy was intended as a surgical treatment for the gallbladder mucoceles, but because of severe adhesion between the gallbladder and liver, the gallbladder was first incised and the contents removed. However, the extrahepatic biliary obstruction remained unresolved despite bile duct irrigation. Therefore, a subtotal cholecystectomy followed by cholecystojejunostomy using the remaining gallbladder was performed to form a bile outflow route. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and the dog’s clinical symptoms, including icterus, have improved. The dog remains in good physical condition 6 months after surgery. This surgical method was useful in a dog with extrahepatic biliary obstruction in which the obstruction was difficult to remove.