HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Personal Folders Download to citation manager Author home page(s): Reza John Mehran Permission Requests Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Chopra, P. Articles by Mehran, R. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Chopra, P. Articles by Mehran, R. J.

Ann Thorac Surg 1999;68:254-255
© 1999 The Society of Thoracic Surgeons

---

Case Reports

Cholelithoptysis and pleural empyema

^a Department of Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
^b Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
^c Montfort Hospital, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

We report a case of delayed cholelithoptysis and pleural empyema caused by gallstone spillage at the time of laparoscopic cholecystecomy. An occult subphrenic abscess developed, and the patient became symptomatic only after trans-diaphragmatic penetration occurred. This resulted in expectoration of bile, gallstones, and pus. Spontaneous decompression of the empyema occurred because of a peritoneo-pleuro-bronchial fistula. This is the first case of such managed nonoperatively and provides support for the importance of intraoperative retrieval of spilled gallstones at the time of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				Y. B. Werber and C. D. Wright Massive hemoptysis from a lung abscess due to retained gallstones Ann. Thorac. Surg., July 1, 2001; 72(1): 278 - 279. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]