Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Unusual presentations of spilled gallstones

  • Case report
  • Published:
Surgical Endoscopy And Other Interventional Techniques Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Perforation of the gallbladder with resultant spillage of gallstones is not an uncommon occurrence. Spillage is reported to occur in 6% to 40% of laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Although not generally considered a significant problem, retained gallstones may cause serious complications years after the operation, with a clinical presentation that often is confusing. We report two cases of unusual complications from spilled gallstones. The first patient presented with clinical and radiologic findings of acute appendicitis 8 years after the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The second patient presented with spontaneous erosion of spilled gallstones through the back 2 years and 9 months after the laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The literature is reviewed, and the management of spilled gallstones is discussed briefly. Although the complication rate is low, every effort should be made to retrieve spilled gallstones, and the event should be recorded in detail in the operative record. Obligatory conversion to an open procedure is not necessary.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. AW Bauer AB Winick HH Osborn (1992) ArticleTitleIntrapelvic calculi demonstrated in a patient after laparoscopic laser cholecystectomy: a case report. J Laparoendosc Surg 2 49–52 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2B2cfhs1c%3D Occurrence Handle1533550

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. E Boldo MA Alba X Botet L Allende (1995) ArticleTitlePerforation of the gallbladder and spilled gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy [letter]. Surg Laparosc Endosc 5 252 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqA28%2Fis1Y%3D Occurrence Handle7633652

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. SA Brazinsky HG Colt (1993) ArticleTitleThoracoscopic diagnosis of pleurolithiasis after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Chest 104 1273–1274 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuD3cfhsVQ%3D Occurrence Handle8404206

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. MT Brueggemeyer AK Saba LC Thibodeaux (1997) ArticleTitleAbscess formation following spilled gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. J Soc Laparoendosc Surg 1 145–152 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2Fptl2nsQ%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. CB Carlin RB Kent HL Laws (1995) ArticleTitleSpilled gallstones: complications of abdominal wall abscesses: case report and review of the literature. Surg Endosc 9 341–343 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqA38%2FnslU%3D Occurrence Handle7597611

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. M Catarci F Zaraca M Scaccia M Carboni (1993) ArticleTitleLost intraperitoneal stones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: harmless sequela or reason for reoperation? Surg Laparosc Endosc 3 318–322 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuD1MvgsFQ%3D Occurrence Handle8269252

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. GH Downie MK Robbins JJ Souza LJ Paradowski (1993) ArticleTitleCholelithoptysis: a complication following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Chest 103 616–617 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByyC287nslc%3D Occurrence Handle8432165

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. RN Gallinaro FB Miller (1994) ArticleTitleThe lost gallstone: complication after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surg Endosc 8 913–914 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqD1cvivVc%3D Occurrence Handle7992165

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. MA Memon RK Deeik TR Maffi RJ Fitzgibbons Jr (1999) ArticleTitleThe outcome of unretrieved gallstones in the peritoneal cavity during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a prospective analysis. Surg Endosc 13 848–857 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004649901118 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1MzotVKnuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle10449837

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. MA Memon HJ Jenkins RJ Fitzgibbons Jr (1997) ArticleTitleSpontaneous erosion of a lost intraabdominal gallstone through the back eight months following laparoscopic cholecystectomy. J Soc Laparosc Surg 1 153–157 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2Fptl2ntg%3D%3D

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. P Nicolai RJ Foley (1992) ArticleTitleComplications of spilled gallstones [letter]. J Laparoendosc Surg 2 362–36 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByyC2cvnvF0%3D Occurrence Handle1490005

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. EJ Patterson AG Nagy (1997) ArticleTitleDon’t cry over spilled stones? Complications of gallstones spilled during laparoscopic cholecystectomy: case report and literature review. Can J Surg 40 300–304 Occurrence Handle9267300

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. JH Peters GD Gibbons JT Innes KE Nichols ME Front SR Roby EC Ellison (1991) ArticleTitleComplications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surgery 110 769–777 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2D38zgt10%3D Occurrence Handle1833848

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. F Petit C Vons M Tahrat A Coulomb-L’Hernie F Capron D Franco (1998) ArticleTitleJaundice following laparoscopic cholecystectomy: an unusual complications of spilled stones. Surg Endosc 12 450–451 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004649900702 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c3ktVKhuw%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9569369

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. DC Rice MA Memon RL Jamison (1997) ArticleTitleLong-term consequences of intraoperative spillage of bile and gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. J Gastrointestinal Surg 1 85–91 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S1091-255X(97)80014-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. M Schafer C Suter CH Klaiber H Wehrli E Frei L Krahenbuhl (1998) ArticleTitleSpilled gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy: a relevant problem? A retrospective analysis of 10,174 laparoscopic cholecystectomies. Surg Endosc 12 305–309 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004649900659 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1c3hvFCitQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9543518

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. NJ Soper DL Dunnegan (1991) ArticleTitleDoes intraoperative gallbladder perforation influence the early outcome of laparoscopic cholecystectomy? Surg Laparosc Endosc 1 156–161 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByuD1c%2FkslI%3D Occurrence Handle1669395

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. PH Steerman (1994) ArticleTitleDelayed peritoneal–cutaneous sinus from unretrieved gallstones. Surg Laparosc Endosc 4 452–453 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqC2s%2FpslA%3D Occurrence Handle7866616

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. SM Strasberg JR Sanabaria PA Clavien (1992) ArticleTitleComplications of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Can J Surg 35 275–280 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:By2A3MrgvVA%3D Occurrence Handle1535545

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. P Taourel D Messens D Duchenne I Greth M Balmes JM Bruel (1995) ArticleTitleDropped gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy mimicking appendicitis: CT features. J Comput Assist Tomogr 19 138–139 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:ByqC383nvVM%3D Occurrence Handle7822531

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. EM Targarona C Balague A Cifuentes J Martinez M Trias (1995) ArticleTitleThe spilled stone: a potential danger after laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surg Endosc 9 768–773 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymD3MvjsFA%3D Occurrence Handle7482182

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. JP Trusi UM Reddy G Huggins (1993) ArticleTitleCholelithiasis of the ovary. Obstet Gynecol 82 653–654 Occurrence Handle8378000

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. CL Willekes WD Widmann (1996) ArticleTitleEmpyema from lost gallstones: a thoracic complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy. J Laparoendosc Surg 6 123–126 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:BymA38zot1c%3D Occurrence Handle8735051

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. G Zamir S Lyass D Pertsemlidis B Katz (1999) ArticleTitleThe fate of the dropped gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Surg Endosc 13 68–70 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s004649900901 Occurrence Handle1:STN:280:DyaK1M%2FovVejtQ%3D%3D Occurrence Handle9869693

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of General Surgery, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA

    M. Yamamuro

  2. Ohio Permanente Medical Group, Surgery Department, Parma Medical Offices, 12301 Snow Road, Parma, OH 44130-1099, USA

    B. Okamoto & B. Owens

Authors
  1. M. Yamamuro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. B. Okamoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. B. Owens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to B. Okamoto.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yamamuro, M., Okamoto, B. & Owens, B. Unusual presentations of spilled gallstones . Surg Endosc 17, 1498 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-001-4131-z

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-001-4131-z

Keywords

Search

Navigation