title: Retroperitoneoscopy to extract dropped gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
abstract: Complications resulting from gallstones left in the peritoneal cavity are most often reported after laparoscopic treatment of cholelitiasis. Gallstones are frequently dropped in the posterior subhepatic space, which can lead to the development of abscesses that usually require laparotomy for extraction of the stones. We present a novel technique for treating collections associated with dropped gallstones, using retroperitoneoscopy with two 10-mm ports after ultrasound localization of the abscess. We carried out this procedure in two patients and successfully extracted the gallstones without postoperative complications or recurrences. We consider this approach to be technically feasible, safe, and effective. It avoids the usual inefficacy of simple percutaneous drainage of these collections and the complications associated with the drainage of intra-abdominal abscesses by laparotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Digestive Surgery, Virgen De Las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain. jevillarmo@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Jesús Maria
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Villar del Moral
authors.forename: Maria Trinidad
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Villegas-Herrera
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Medina-Benítez
authors.forename: Jose Manuel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramia-Angel
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Garrote-Lara
authors.forename: José Antonio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ferrón-Orihuela
mesh_terms: D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000601:surgery*; D042882:Gallstones / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010537:Peritoneum