Absence of Falciform Ligament Found During Laparoscopic Surgery: A Case Report

Abstract

Anatomic variants of hepatic ligaments are rare, and complications attributable to these variants may be difficult to diagnose. Our aim is to contribute to the literature surrounding the incidental finding of a congenital absence of the falciform ligament. We report the case of a 37-year-old man who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis. During the operation, the patient was noted to have an apparent absence of the falciform ligament attachment to the liver. The round ligament was attached from the liver to the anterior abdominal wall at the level of the umbilicus. The round ligament is inserted into the inferior surface of the liver as a thick, cordlike structure encased in fat. In rare cases, the small intestine can pass through a falciform ligament defect and become trapped while remaining within the peritoneal cavity, leading to difficult-to-diagnose internal hernias. This condition can lead to intestinal obstruction, incarceration, and strangulation. This directed our decision to divide the remaining round ligament at the liver and close to the abdominal wall. When defects of hepatic ligaments are found incidentally during laparoscopic surgery, these investigators recommend that the operating surgeon consider dividing the remaining ligament as a protective procedure to prevent complications such as internal hernias, intestinal obstruction, incarceration, and strangulation.