Subcutaneous abscess due to gallstones lost during laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Surgical Pathology

Background:

• Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a common procedure for gallstone removal.
• Complications from retained gallstones are rarely documented in surgical literature.

Observation:

• A patient developed a chronic subcutaneous and subfascial abscess in the lower abdomen.
• The abscess contained multiple pigment calculi.

Findings:

• The patient had undergone laparoscopic cholecystectomy six months prior.
• Multiple small pigment calculi were lost into the abdominal cavity during the initial surgery.

Implications:

• This case highlights a potential, albeit rare, complication of retained pigment calculi after laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
• Further investigation into the inflammatory potential of lost pigment calculi in humans is warranted.