LAPAROSCOPIC CHOLECYSTECTOMY - LEAVE NO (SPILLED) STONE UNTURNED

Stones are sometimes spilled at the time of cholecystectomy. Retrieval may be difficult, especially during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Lit tle is known about the natural history of missed stones which are left behind in the peritoneal cavity. We present a case in which a patient developed an intraabdominal abscess around such a stone. The abscess recurred after drainage and removal of the stone was needed for resolu tion. This case suggests that care should be taken to avoid stone spil lage, and that stones which are spilled into the abdomen should be ret rieved.