Body parts aren’t where they’re supposed to be

April 4, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have been told by my physician that I have a tear in my diaphragm and approximately 1/3 of my liver has gone through it. This was discovered when CT scans were being run to check for infections in my intestines. (I have problems with diverticulitis fairly often but have never had surgery for it.)

After pulling my X-rays and scans from years past, he further stated that it shows up as far back as 2004. (I was told in 2009 when it was discovered accidentally and after I questioned a readout of the scan that was given to me.) At first my family doctor and a specialist didn’t think that it was what it appeared to “possibly” be. I have had no trauma such as an accident but did have my gallbladder removed in 2004.
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The sad consequences of surgery

February 24, 2011 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: My 78-year-old mother recently passed away owing to gallbladder surgery. The surgeon that took it out accidentally cut a duct of Luschka, and she had a bile leak into her body. She never recovered from the second surgery to repair the leak. Can you explain what the duct of Luschka is and does everybody have one?

DEAR READER: Yes, everyone does. The “duct of Luschka” was named after a German anatomist, referring to an accessory duct that transports bile from the working tissue of the liver (as opposed to supporting or connective tissue) into the gallbladder. Unfortunately, with injury to the duct, a devastating outcome can occur about a week after resection as bile drains into the abdominal cavity. My sympathies are with you.

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