title: Spontaneous biliothorax (thoracobilia) following cholecystopleural fistula presenting as an acute respiratory insufficiency. Successful removal of gallstones from the pleural space.
abstract: A patient presented to the emergency department with tachypnea, fever, a right pleural effusion, and lung consolidation. The computed tomographic guided thoracentesis yielded a greenish fluid with bilirubin. The ultrasound examination demonstrated a distended gallbladder with stones, positioned on the ventral face of the liver and a free communication between the fundus and the pleural cavity. The cholecystopleural fistula was confirmed at operation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, District Hospital, Locarno, Switzerland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Delcò
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Domenighetti
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kauzlaric
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Donati
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mombelli
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D001646:Bile; D001658:Biliary Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis*; D013896:Thoracic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery