“Spilled” Gallstones Causing Abdominal Wall Abscess

Abstract

A 45-year-old female presented five months after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for symptomatic cholelithiasis with recurrent abdominal pain and an abdominal mass. CT scan revealed an abdominal wall abscess over the epigastric port site with a subcutaneous hyperdense focus suggesting a “spilled” stone. At surgery, an abscess collection was drained and a gallstone was extruded from the collection. Port site abscesses are a rare complication of “lost” stones and a high index of suspicion must be maintained to appropriately investigate and manage this uncommon complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.