Role of Rouviere's sulcus as anatomic landmark in laparoscopic cholecystectomy        CAI Hua-jie，YE Bai-liang, HAN Yu, et al. Department of Endoscopic Surgery，the First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou 325003, China
Corresponding author：HAN Yu, E-mail: tongji99@sina.com
Abstract    Objective    To explore the role of Rouviere's sulcus as extrabiliary reference point in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Methods    The clinical data of 584 patients performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy from March 2010 to April 2011 in the Department of Endoscopic Surgery，the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical College were analyzed. Frequency and type of Rouviere's sulcus were documented and Rouviere's sulcus was used to guide the commencement of dissection in hepatobiliary triangle in laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Results    A total of 584 patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included in the study. Open type of Rouviere's sulcus was visualized in 346 patients and fused type of Rouviere's sulcus was visualized in 102 patients. Hence in a total of 448 (76.7%) patients had Rouviere's sulcus. There was no bile duct injury or mortality. Three patients were converted to open operation (0.5%) and all patients recovered well. Conclusion    Rouviere's sulcus is an important extrabiliary landmark and identifiable in majority of patients. Its identification before commencement of Calot’s triangle dissection may help in preventing the bile duct injury in laparoscopic cholecystectomy and should be applied widely.