Spilled Gallstones Silent for a Decade: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is associated with complications such as gallbladder perforation and spillage of gallstones. While these shortcomings are common, the occurrence of the resultant nuisances, such as intra-abdominal abscesses, is infrequent. We present the case of an individual who developed an intra-abdominal abscess following a spillage of gallstones, which occurred after a laparoscopic cholecystectomy that was performed more than a decade ago. Herein, we also discuss the findings of a literature review that highlights the clinical presentations of an intra-abdominal abscess formed due to gallstone spillage after a decade of the laparoscopic intervention. We also discuss the underlying pathophysiology leading to abscess formation, the imaging modalities used to visualize the abscess, as well as the therapeutic strategy used to treat this rare clinical entity.