The displaced polymer clamp entered the duodenum causing an abscess: A case report

The Hem-o-lok clip, made from a nonabsorbable polymer, and its predecessor the metal ligation clip have been used widely for laparoscopic or robot-assisted surgery to ligate the cystic duct after a cholecystectomy, to ligate the appendix after an appendectomy, or control hemorrhage or on occasion to occlude a fistula or enterotomy. Displacement of these ligation clips to distant sites is an extremely rare complication in clinical practice.

The patient is a 67-year old female who sought medical attention for 3 days due to worsening intermittent upper abdominal pain and poor appetite. Gastroscopy showed both an ulcer and the presence of a foreign object embedded in the anterior wall of the duodenal bulb, consistent with what looked like a polymer-based ligation clip. After removal of the foreign body, which turned out to be a remnant of the polymer clip, no further pus was seen, but fresh granulomatous tissues were seen at the base.

a polymer-based clip-induced duodenal bulb erosion with a local contained enterically draining abscess.

The patient recovered after removing foreign bodies under gastroscopy and receiving anti infection treatment.

The patient recovered after removing foreign bodies under gastroscopy and receiving anti infection treatment.

In laparoscopic cholecystectomy, attention should be paid to the correct surgical techniques, possibly by decreasing the number of such clips used or considering use of absorbable clips, ligature wires, ligation with absorbable suture material, or ultrasonic resection, all of which can be used for clipless cholecystectomy.