title: Cholelithoptysis: an unusual delayed complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: We report the case of a 54-year old woman who presented with a persistent right lower lobe pneumonia followed by cholelithoptysis, 11 months after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy. It is postulated that this was a result of the formation of a subphrenic abscess secondary to intraoperative spillage of gallstones. It is concluded that spillage of gallstones at laparoscopic cholecystectomy is not as benign as previously thought and that efforts to prevent spillage should include scrupulous operative technique, especially in the presence of gallbladder inflammation, and especial care when removing the gallbladder from the abdominal cavity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Respiratory Medicine, Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust, Norwich, Norfolk, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Hanna
authors.forename: Oz
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Barakat
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Watkin
mesh_terms: D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D041761:Cholecystolithiasis / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000209:etiology*; D012008:Recurrence; D013369:Subphrenic Abscess / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors