ABSTRACT:A case report is presented to illustrate the beneficial results of a diagnostic laparotomy in a supposedly neurotic patient who for twenty years had had repeated attacks of abdominal pain with fever. Previous clinical, x‐ray and laboratory findings had not been definite enough to justify surgery. The laparotomy findings indicated subacute cholecystitis and pancreatitis secondary to partial obstruction of the cystic duct by an aberrant blood vesse