Pleural empyema caused by dropped gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a case report

Abstract Background Dropped gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) sometimes induce postoperative infectious complications. However, pleural empyema rarely occurs as a complication of LC. Case presentation We present the case of a 66-year-old woman with right pleural empyema. She previo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aya Tokuda, Hiromitsu Maehira, Hiroya Iida, Haruki Mori, Nobuhito Nitta, Takeru Maekawa, Katsushi Takebayashi, Sachiko Kaida, Toru Miyake, Ryo Kuroda, Haruka Yamamoto, Masaji Tani
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Japan Surgical Society 2022-04-01
Series:Surgical Case Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-022-01419-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850059077778931712
author Aya Tokuda
Hiromitsu Maehira
Hiroya Iida
Haruki Mori
Nobuhito Nitta
Takeru Maekawa
Katsushi Takebayashi
Sachiko Kaida
Toru Miyake
Ryo Kuroda
Haruka Yamamoto
Masaji Tani
author_facet Aya Tokuda
Hiromitsu Maehira
Hiroya Iida
Haruki Mori
Nobuhito Nitta
Takeru Maekawa
Katsushi Takebayashi
Sachiko Kaida
Toru Miyake
Ryo Kuroda
Haruka Yamamoto
Masaji Tani
author_sort Aya Tokuda
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Dropped gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) sometimes induce postoperative infectious complications. However, pleural empyema rarely occurs as a complication of LC. Case presentation We present the case of a 66-year-old woman with right pleural empyema. She previously underwent LC for acute gangrenous cholecystitis 11 months ago. The operative report revealed iatrogenic gallbladder perforation and stone spillage. The bacterial culture of the gallbladder bile was positive for Escherichia coli. Chest and abdominal computed tomography revealed right pleural effusion, perihepatic fluid collection, and multiple small radiopaque density masses. Although ultrasound-guided transthoracic drainage was performed, the drainage was incomplete, and systemic inflammatory reaction persisted. Consequently, thoracotomy and laparotomy with gallstone retrieval were performed, and the patient recovered completely. The patient has remained well without complications after 14 months of follow-up. Conclusions We report a rare case of pleural empyema caused by dropped gallstones after LC. This case emphasized the importance of completely retrieving the dropped gallstones to prevent late infectious complications after LC.
format Article
id doaj-art-e82665d136a84827942364ed0d1b0584
institution DOAJ
issn 2198-7793
language English
publishDate 2022-04-01
publisher Japan Surgical Society
record_format Article
series Surgical Case Reports
spelling doaj-art-e82665d136a84827942364ed0d1b05842025-08-20T02:50:59ZengJapan Surgical SocietySurgical Case Reports2198-77932022-04-01811610.1186/s40792-022-01419-4Pleural empyema caused by dropped gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a case reportAya Tokuda0Hiromitsu Maehira1Hiroya Iida2Haruki Mori3Nobuhito Nitta4Takeru Maekawa5Katsushi Takebayashi6Sachiko Kaida7Toru Miyake8Ryo Kuroda9Haruka Yamamoto10Masaji Tani11Department of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical ScienceDivision of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical ScienceDivision of Respiratory Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Shiga University of Medical ScienceDepartment of Surgery, Shiga University of Medical ScienceAbstract Background Dropped gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) sometimes induce postoperative infectious complications. However, pleural empyema rarely occurs as a complication of LC. Case presentation We present the case of a 66-year-old woman with right pleural empyema. She previously underwent LC for acute gangrenous cholecystitis 11 months ago. The operative report revealed iatrogenic gallbladder perforation and stone spillage. The bacterial culture of the gallbladder bile was positive for Escherichia coli. Chest and abdominal computed tomography revealed right pleural effusion, perihepatic fluid collection, and multiple small radiopaque density masses. Although ultrasound-guided transthoracic drainage was performed, the drainage was incomplete, and systemic inflammatory reaction persisted. Consequently, thoracotomy and laparotomy with gallstone retrieval were performed, and the patient recovered completely. The patient has remained well without complications after 14 months of follow-up. Conclusions We report a rare case of pleural empyema caused by dropped gallstones after LC. This case emphasized the importance of completely retrieving the dropped gallstones to prevent late infectious complications after LC.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-022-01419-4Pleural empyemaDropped gallstoneAcute cholecystitisLaparoscopic cholecystectomy
spellingShingle Aya Tokuda
Hiromitsu Maehira
Hiroya Iida
Haruki Mori
Nobuhito Nitta
Takeru Maekawa
Katsushi Takebayashi
Sachiko Kaida
Toru Miyake
Ryo Kuroda
Haruka Yamamoto
Masaji Tani
Pleural empyema caused by dropped gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a case report
Surgical Case Reports
Pleural empyema
Dropped gallstone
Acute cholecystitis
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
title Pleural empyema caused by dropped gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a case report
title_full Pleural empyema caused by dropped gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a case report
title_fullStr Pleural empyema caused by dropped gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a case report
title_full_unstemmed Pleural empyema caused by dropped gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a case report
title_short Pleural empyema caused by dropped gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis: a case report
title_sort pleural empyema caused by dropped gallstones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis a case report
topic Pleural empyema
Dropped gallstone
Acute cholecystitis
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40792-022-01419-4
work_keys_str_mv AT ayatokuda pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport
AT hiromitsumaehira pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport
AT hiroyaiida pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport
AT harukimori pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport
AT nobuhitonitta pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport
AT takerumaekawa pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport
AT katsushitakebayashi pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport
AT sachikokaida pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport
AT torumiyake pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport
AT ryokuroda pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport
AT harukayamamoto pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport
AT masajitani pleuralempyemacausedbydroppedgallstonesafterlaparoscopiccholecystectomyforacutecholecystitisacasereport