Calot's Triangle
Calot's triangle is a small triangular space at the porta hepatis of surgical importance as it is dissected during cholecystectomy. Its contents, the cystic artery and cystic duct, must be identified before ligation and division to avoid intraoperative injury.
Borders
Superior → Inferior Surface of the Liver
Inferior → Cystic Duct
Medial → Common Hepatic Duct
Contents
Right Hepatic Artery
Cystic Artery
Lymph Node of Lund
Lymphatics
Clinical/Surgical Significance
The Calot’s Triangle Must be identified during Cholecystectomy.
Dissection of the triangle allows for the visualization of the arterial tree and variations within the triangle
During Cholecystectomy, the identification of the Cystic Duct and Cystic Artery are essential. Once identified, they are ligated.
If the calot’s triangle cannot be identified, Laparascopic Cholecystectomy must be converted to either a Subtotal Cholecystectomy or Open Cholecystectomy
The original description of the Calot’s Triangle identifies the Cystic Artery as the Superior border, and considered the Calot’s Triangle as being within the Cystohepatic Triangle. In modern terminology, the Calot’s Triangle and Cystohepatic Triangle are considered the same.
