Embolism of a metallic clip: An unusual complication following laparoscopic cholecystectomy

A 32-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy during which the re was severe bleeding from the bed of the gallbladder. As application of m etallic clips to control the bleeding was not successful, the operation was converted to an open laparotomy. Cholecystectomy was successfully complete d without further complications, and the post-operative course was uneventf ul and the patient was discharged. Eighteen months later, the patient compl ained of dyspnea. Plain radiograph and computed tomography of the thorax sh owed a metallic clip in the branch of the pulmonary artery supplying the po sterior basal segment of the inferior lobe of the left lung. There was no c onnection between the patient's symptoms and the clip embolism. Nevertheles s, clip migration or embolism could cause severe complications. Therefore, metallic clips should not be used to stop bleeding from the gallbladder bed . Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.