Laparoscopic Removal of a Retained Gallbladder with Remnant Cystic Duct Calculi

ABSTRACT

Laparoscopic cholecystectomy has been widely performed as a gold standard in patients with symptomatic gallstone disease. To avoid bile duct injury during operation, it is recommended that dissection should be kept close to the gallbladder despite the potential risk of long cystic duct stump. Post-cholecystectomy syndrome refers to a wide spectrum of conditions that often pose a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma for surgeon. Cystic duct remnant may cause postcholecystectomy syndrome in the presence of stones. A case is presented in which a symptomatic gallbladder remnant with gallstone was removed successfully by laparoscopic technique. In the era of laparoscopic surgery, which favors a long cystic duct remnant, we should be aware of cystic duct remnant stones as a possible cause of post-cholecystectomy syndrome.