Callots Triangle

CALLOTS TRIANGLE

 

       

The hepatobiliary triangle (or cystohepatic triangle) is an anatomic space bordered by the hepatic duct medially, the cystic duct laterally and the cystic artery superiorly.

Another name used to refer to this region is Calot's Triangle. It is named for Jean-François Calot. Of note, Calot's original description of the triangle in 1891 included the cystic duct, the common hepatic duct, and the cystic artery (not the inferior border of the liver as is commonly believed). The cystohepatic triangle is the area bound by the cystic duct, common hepatic duct, and the liver margin.

General surgeons frequently quiz medical students on this term and the name for the lymph node located within the triangle, Mascagni's lymph node or Lund's node. The latter is frequently enlarged due to inflammation of the gallbladder (e.g. cholecystitis) or the biliary tract (e.g. cholangitis) and may be removed along with the gallbladder during surgical treatment (cholecystectomy).

 

Contents of Callots Triangle:

Mascagni's lymph node,
Cystic artery.

Importance of callots triangle;

In the operation of cholecystectomy, the gallbladder is removed for its pathology. In such an operation there are many chances that the gallbladder can rupture due to surgical injury. In such cases the can also rupture the cystic artery present in the triangle. There is messiness in such a case and the structures in it are difficult to visualise. If such a situation arises it will be wise to insert the haemostatic forceps directly in the triangle which will catch the ruptured cystic artery. This will directly catch the bleeder and hence help clear the area.