No abstract

Since laparoscopic cholecystectomy rapidly became the gold standard, there is an increased morbidity of 1% to 3% for clinically significant bile leaks with this procedure, as compared with open cholecystectomy (<1%). The identification of subclinical bile leaks using cholescintigraphy occurs in the range from 31.4% to 40% after elective open cholecystectomy. At this writing, no studies exist that document the rate of subclinical bile leaks after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. In this study, 71 patients were evaluated using cholescintigraphy after elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy. This study represents the first prospective look at the rate of subclinical bile leaks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in elective cases, and the findings show an overall incidence of 7.3%, as compared with historical reports of 30% to 44% for open cholecystectomy.

Surgeons are increasingly performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the setting of acute cholecystitis. The acutely inflamed gallbladder poses a more technically demanding dissection with potential for an increase in bile leak rates. Clinical and subclinical bile leak rates after laparoscopic and open cholecystectomy in the elective setting are known. This study prospectively evaluates the rate of clinical and subclinical bile leaks after laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the setting of acute cholecystitis. One hundred patients underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis, as determined intraoperatively and by history, ultrasound, fever, or leukocytosis. On postoperative Day 1, the patients underwent cholescintigraphy (PIPIDA scan) analyzed by a board-certified radiologist for evidence of bile leaks. Postoperative cholescintigraphy revealed eight scans positive for bile leaks. Regardless of scan result, no patient experienced a clinically symptomatic bile leak. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a safe and effective treatment for acute cholecystitis with acceptable clinical and subclinical bile leak rates.

Bouveret’s syndrome is a rare complication that occurs most commonly in elderly patients with multiple comorbidities. It is secondary to an impacted gallstone causing gastric outlet obstruction from a cholecystoduodenal fistula, and there is no defined standardized management in current literature. A 92-year-old woman presents to our tertiary community hospital with abdominal discomfort concerning for bowel obstruction. Computed tomography revealed pneumobilia with a cholecystoduodenal fistula and a large gallstone in the proximal duodenum causing gastric outlet obstruction. The impacted gallstone failed endoscopic extraction with electrohydraulic lithotripsy, and patient subsequently developed distal gallstone ileus requiring exploratory laparotomy and enterolithotomy. This case report examines the need for early coordinated endoscopic and surgical management of a patient with Bouveret’s syndrome complicated by gallstone ileus as it is associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.