title: Percutaneous removal of "dropped" gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is becoming increasingly popular in the treatment of symptomatic gallstones, offering improved patient satisfaction and decreased hospital stays. The authors describe a patient in whom infected bile and gallstones were spilled or "dropped" during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Most of the gallstones ranged from 5 to 8 mm in diameter; one gallstone was 11 x 17 mm. An abscess formed around the stones, and percutaneous stone removal was performed 1 week after abscess drainage. The size of the retained gallstones is important. Stones smaller than 1 cm in diameter can usually be removed via a 30-F sheath by conventional means, whereas stones larger than 1 cm in diameter require fragmentation before removal.
authors.affiliation: Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Md.
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Trerotola
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Lillemoe
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Malloy
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Osterman
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000379:methods; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography