Intrathoracic gallstones: a case report and literature review.
BACKGROUND
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is one of the most commonly performed procedures in general surgery. There have been very few reported thoracic complications from this surgical procedure.


METHODS
We report the case of a patient who underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy with gallstone spillage 34 months before presenting to the thoracic surgery service. The patient first complained of streaks of hemoptysis at 6 months from the time of the original procedure. A lower lobe infiltrate was noted and treated successfully with oral antibiotics. Over the next 2 years, the patient's symptoms waxed and waned.


RESULTS
Due to the chronic infiltrate in his lung, a thoracotomy was performed that revealed erosion of the stone through the right diaphragm with formation of a lung abscess.


CONCLUSIONS
A high index of suspicion for a gallstone-related problem should be entertained by the practitioner when presented with a patient who has a right lung infiltrate and a history of open or laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
Fontaine
Jacques P
JP
Division of Thoracic Surgery, University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA.
Issa
Roger A
RA
Yantiss
Rhonda K
RK
Podbielski
Francis J
FJ
D000368:Aged; D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic; D006801:Humans; D008169:Lung Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D035423:Thoracic Cavity; D013908:Thoracotomy