title: Clostridial gas gangrene of the abdominal wall after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with a considerable rate of infectious complications of up to 2.8%. Such infections are usually of minor clinical importance. However, we observed a case of life-threatening Clostridial gas gangrene centering around the right lateral port site and developing across all of the right-sided abdominal wall, causing septic shock and severe multi-organ failure. Considering the overall infection rate and the possibility of even severe morbidity, we advocate perioperative antibiotics in laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, University of Göttingen, Germany.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Samel
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Post
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Martell
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology*; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005738:Gas Gangrene / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009102:Multiple Organ Failure / Q000209:etiology; D012772:Shock, Septic / Q000209:etiology