Abscesses caused by "dropped" stones after laparoscopic cholecystectomy for cholelithiasis: a report of three cases

While laparoscopic cholecystectomy is a standard therapeutic option for gallbladder stones, it is associated with a significant risk of injury to the gallbladder wall, which may result in the dispersion of free stones within the peritoneal cavity. However, the incidence and consequences of these dropped stones remains unclear. We report herein the cases of three patients in whom abdominal abscesses developed as a result of dropped stones during this procedure. Of particular interest was the relatively long interval from the procedure to the onset of symptoms and the unusual progression of the inflammation. These case reports strongly reinforce the risk of dropped stones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy.