Complicated triple gallbladder: clinical presentation and surgical approach

We report a patient with previous biliary symptoms and endoscopic interventions who presented with clinical features suggestive of choledocholithiasis. Open surgical exploration disclosed three gallbladders with copious stones and varying degrees of acute and chronic inflammation. Literature review revealed only 16 previously reported cases. We review the aetiology of triple gallbladder as being due to failure of rudimentary bile ducts to regress during embryological development, as well as the classification scheme of triple gallbladder based on size, location and number. We also discuss the clinical evaluation and appropriate surgical management of this entity, as triple gallbladders can be associated with cholecystitis or carcinoma.