title: Cholelithoptysis. A complication following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: A 59-year-old woman who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholecystitis presented four months later with fever, malaise, anorexia, hemoptysis and lithoptysis. Chemical analysis of the expectorated lithes revealed them to be gallstones. Ultrasound studies of the right upper quadrant demonstrated both supradiaphragmatic and subdiaphragmatic fluid collections containing echogenic fragments. ERCP failed to demonstrate retained ductal stones or fistula formation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of cholelithoptysis and demonstrates an unusual complication of gallstone retention following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
authors.affiliation: University of North Carolina Hospitals, Department of Medicine, Chapel Hill.
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Downie
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Paradowski
mesh_terms: D001980:Bronchi; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002769:Cholelithiasis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged