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Updated: Jan 13, 2026
07:30
Creating Radio-cephalic Arteriovenous Fistula in the Forearm with a Modified No-Touch Technique
Published on: April 1, 2022
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Uncommon cause of percutaneous fistulation
Luke Nessan Carson1,2, Melanie Page2, Robert Holmes3
1Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK luke.carson1@nhs.net.
BMJ Case Reports
|October 29, 2025
Summary
A retained gallstone caused a skin sinus tract in a patient post-cholecystectomy. This case highlights dropped gallstones as a rare cause of unexplained abdominal fistulas in surgical patients.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Complications
- Dermatology
Background:
- Dropped gallstones are a known complication of laparoscopic cholecystectomy.
- Clinical manifestations of dropped gallstones are uncommon.
- Abdomino-percutaneous fistulation can have various etiologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a unique case of a dropped gallstone causing a fistulating sinus tract.
- To raise awareness of dropped gallstones as a differential diagnosis for unexplained fistulas.
- To emphasize the importance of considering surgical history in diagnosing complex presentations.
Main Methods:
- Case report detailing a patient's clinical presentation.
- Review of radiological findings.
- Discussion of the implications of retained gallstones.
Main Results:
- A patient developed a chronic, inflamed, fistulating sinus tract on the flank.
- Radiological imaging confirmed a dropped gallstone as the etiology.
- The gallstone was successfully removed, resolving the fistula.
Conclusions:
- Dropped gallstones, though rare, can lead to significant clinical complications like abdomino-percutaneous fistulation.
- Patients with a history of cholecystectomy presenting with unexplained fistulas should be evaluated for retained gallstones.
- This case underscores the need for vigilance in diagnosing complications related to laparoscopic procedures.
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