Ducts of Luschka
Encyclopedia
An accessory bile duct
is a conduit that transports bile
and is considered to be supernumerary
or auxiliary to the biliary tree
.
It may be described by its location relative to the gallbladder
as supravescicular (superior to the gallbladder body) or subvesicular (inferior to the gallbladder body).
Accessory cystic duct
s are excluded from the definition of duct of Luschka; however, they are accessory bile ducts.
, they can be a source of a bile leak or biliary peritonitis
after cholecystectomy
in both adults and children. If an accessory bile duct goes unrecognized at the time of the gallbladder removal, 5-7 days post-operative the patient will develop bile peritonitis
, an easily treatable complication with a morbidity rate of 44% if left untreated.
Often diagnosed by HIDA scan
, a bile leak from an accessory bile duct post-op can be treated with a temporary biliary stent to redirect the bile from the liver into the intestine and allow the accessory duct to spontaneously seal themselves.
anatomist
Hubert von Luschka
(1820-1875)
Bile duct
A bile duct is any of a number of long tube-like structures that carry bile.Bile, required for the digestion of food, is excreted by the liver into passages that carry bile toward the hepatic duct, which joins with the cystic duct to form the common bile duct, which opens into the intestine.The...
is a conduit that transports bile
Bile
Bile or gall is a bitter-tasting, dark green to yellowish brown fluid, produced by the liver of most vertebrates, that aids the process of digestion of lipids in the small intestine. In many species, bile is stored in the gallbladder and upon eating is discharged into the duodenum...
and is considered to be supernumerary
Supernumerary body part
Supernumerary body parts are most commonly a congenital disorder involving the growth of an additional part of the body and a deviation from the body plan. Body parts may be easily visible or hidden away, such as internal organs....
or auxiliary to the biliary tree
Biliary tree
The biliary tract is the common anatomical term for the path by which bile is secreted by the liver then transported to the first part of the small intestine, also known as the duodenum...
.
It may be described by its location relative to the gallbladder
Gallbladder
In vertebrates the gallbladder is a small organ that aids mainly in fat digestion and concentrates bile produced by the liver. In humans the loss of the gallbladder is usually easily tolerated....
as supravescicular (superior to the gallbladder body) or subvesicular (inferior to the gallbladder body).
Duct of Luschka
In the surgical literature, the term duct of Luschka is used to refer to an accessory bile duct that does not communicate with the gallbladder lumen. The term is ambiguous otherwise, as it may refer to supravescicular or subvescicular ducts. Supravesicular ducts are typically in the gallbladder bed.Accessory cystic duct
Cystic duct
The cystic duct is the short duct that joins the gall bladder to the common bile duct. It usually lies next to the cystic artery. It is of variable length...
s are excluded from the definition of duct of Luschka; however, they are accessory bile ducts.
Clinical significance
Although they may not drain any liver parenchymaParenchyma
Parenchyma is a term used to describe a bulk of a substance. It is used in different ways in animals and in plants.The term is New Latin, f. Greek παρέγχυμα - parenkhuma, "visceral flesh", f. παρεγχεῖν - parenkhein, "to pour in" f. para-, "beside" + en-, "in" + khein, "to pour"...
, they can be a source of a bile leak or biliary peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
after cholecystectomy
Cholecystectomy
Cholecystectomy is the surgical removal of the gallbladder. It is the most common method for treating symptomatic gallstones. Surgical options include the standard procedure, called laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and an older more invasive procedure, called open cholecystectomy.-Open surgery:A...
in both adults and children. If an accessory bile duct goes unrecognized at the time of the gallbladder removal, 5-7 days post-operative the patient will develop bile peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
, an easily treatable complication with a morbidity rate of 44% if left untreated.
Often diagnosed by HIDA scan
HIDA scan
A cholescintigraphy scan, also known as: Hepato Iminodiacetic Acid HIDA, Paraisopropyl Iminodiacetic Acid PIPIDA, or Diisopropyl Iminodiacetic Acid DISIDA scan...
, a bile leak from an accessory bile duct post-op can be treated with a temporary biliary stent to redirect the bile from the liver into the intestine and allow the accessory duct to spontaneously seal themselves.
Eponym
The duct of Luschka is named after GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
anatomist
Anatomy
Anatomy is a branch of biology and medicine that is the consideration of the structure of living things. It is a general term that includes human anatomy, animal anatomy , and plant anatomy...
Hubert von Luschka
Hubert von Luschka
Hubert von Luschka, born Hubert Luschka , was a German anatomist. He lent his name to several structures, including the foramina of Luschka, Luschka's crypts, Luschka's law, Luschka's joints, and Ducts of Luschka....
(1820-1875)