Moynihan's Hump: A Rare Anatomical Variation of the Right Hepatic Artery Encountered During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Lasha Gulbani, Devanshi Jariwala, Vakhtang Goderdzishvili, Giorgi Kherodinashvili, Dimitri Kordzaia

Abstract


Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a commonly performed surgical procedure in current medical practice. During this procedure, surgeons often encounter variations in the vascular and biliary anatomy. One such variation is the "Moynihan's hump" or "caterpillar configuration" of the right hepatic artery, where the tortuous right hepatic artery runs proximally or in parallel to the cystic duct, occupying a significant portion of Callout’s triangle. "Moynihan's hump" commonly gives the origin to thin and short cystic artery. Identification of "Moynihan's hump" are crucial for preventing potentially life-threatening intraoperative vascular or biliary injuries during cholecystectomy. This report presents two cases of Moynihan's hump identified during laparoscopic cholecystectomies, one in a 19-year-old woman with chronic cholecystitis and the other in a 62-year-old woman with acute cholecystitis. In both cases, the humps of the right hepatic arteries were successfully identified and secured during the operation.

Keywords


Moynihan's Hump; Caterpillar configuration; Tortuous Right Hepatic Artery; Callot's Triangle; Laparoscopic cholecystectomy;

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References


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