Calot’s triangle is an anatomic region important for safely identifying which structures during gallbladder surgery?

Calot’s triangle is an anatomic region important for safely identifying which structures during gallbladder surgery?

• A. Cystic duct and cystic artery
• B. Calot’s triangle boundaries define the cystic duct, common hepatic duct, and liver edge
• C. Hepatic duct and portal vein
• D. Inferior vena cava and hepatic veins

Answer: (A)

Calot’s triangle is the surgical window used during gallbladder removal to safely locate the cystic duct and cystic artery. It is bounded by the cystic duct, the common hepatic duct, and the inferior border of the liver. Inside this space, the cystic artery (often accompanied by a Calot’s lymph node) is encountered and must be identified and tied off before the cystic duct is divided. This careful identification helps prevent injury to the common bile duct or hepatic vessels during dissection. The hepatic duct and portal vein are not the structures you aim to identify within Calot’s triangle, and the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins lie elsewhere in the abdomen.

Calot’s triangle is the surgical window used during gallbladder removal to safely locate the cystic duct and cystic artery. It is bounded by the cystic duct, the common hepatic duct, and the inferior border of the liver. Inside this space, the cystic artery (often accompanied by a Calot’s lymph node) is encountered and must be identified and tied off before the cystic duct is divided. This careful identification helps prevent injury to the common bile duct or hepatic vessels during dissection. The hepatic duct and portal vein are not the structures you aim to identify within Calot’s triangle, and the inferior vena cava and hepatic veins lie elsewhere in the abdomen.