title: A rare late complication of spilled gallstones.
abstract: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the treatment of choice for symptomatic gallstones. A complication that is often overlooked is that related to lost intraabdominal gallstones as a consequence of intraoperative gallbladder perforation. This is a case report of a patient presenting with a colovesical fistula due to lost gallstones from laparoscopic cholecystectomy performed 14 years previously. A literature review follows that explains how lost gallstones have the potential to cause late complications and why it is should not be ignored.
authors.affiliation: Anaesthetics Department, Wanganui Hospital, 100 Heads Road, Wanganui, New Zealand. dinukgooneratne@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Dinuk L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Gooneratne
mesh_terms: D017081:Cholecystectomy, Laparoscopic / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003113:Colonoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000293:injuries; D042882:Gallstones / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007431:Intraoperative Complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014548:Urinary Fistula / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery