BILATERAL ADRENAL HEMORRHAGE FOLLOWING LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Massive bilateral adrenal hemorrhage occurring in the postoperative pe riod is an unusual but potentially life-threatening complication of an y abdominal operation. The diagnosis is often difficult due to the non specific nature of the clinical presentation, which is easily attribut able to other more common postoperative conditions. We report a case o f bilateral adrenal hemorrhage resulting in acute primary adrenal insu fficiency following an otherwise-uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecyste ctomy, which has not previously been described. An awareness of the po ssibility of this uncommon condition complicating laparoscopic cholecy stectomy may lead to a higher index of suspicion, which is important i n timely diagnosis and prompt treatment.