CT findings after uncomplicated percutaneous laparoscopic cholecystectomy

To investigate the postoperative pulmonary and abdominal findings following uncomplicated percutaneous laparoscopic cholecystectomy, 27 patients were studied by upper abdominal CT within 24 h of the surgical procedure. Both pneumoperitoneum (70%) and subcutaneous emphysema (56%) were commonly observed. Postoperative atelectasis and pleural effusions were observed in 44 and 33% of the patients, respectively. Forty-eight percent of the patients had a postoperative ileus demonstrated by CT. Approximately 22% of the patients had fluid in the abdomen as either edema in the gallbladder fossa or small amounts of ascites. In our patients the amount of ascitic fluid was small and no clinical significance could be attributed to the intraabdominal fluid collections.