Treatment of cholecystocolonic fistula by laparoscopy

Cholecystocolonic fistula is an unusual complication of biliary tract disease. Many of the signs and symptoms of these fistulas are nonspecific, so the diagnosis is often not suspected preoperatively. It is important to make the diagnosis then to prevent fecal contamination when the fistula is divided. We recently encountered a patient who, while undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy, was found to have a fistula between the gallbladder and the proximal transverse colon. Important features in the management of this case are (1) maintaining a high index of suspicion for the presence of this complication, (2) use of cholecystography to establish the diagnosis, and (3) use of laparoscopic stapling techniques to divide the fistula while preventing fecal soilage.