A Surgeon's Challenge: Diagnosing and Managing Hidden Bile Duct Stones Post-cholecystectomy

Cureus. 2024 Mar 25;16(3):e56865. doi: 10.7759/cureus.56865. eCollection 2024 Mar.

Abstract

This case report details the diagnostic and management challenges encountered with hidden bile duct stones post-cholecystectomy in a 58-year-old female patient. Despite a successful laparoscopic cholecystectomy, the patient developed sudden upper abdominal pain and jaundice, leading to the discovery of an impacted bile duct stone. The case underscores the limitations of conventional preoperative diagnostics and highlights the importance of advanced imaging techniques and a multidisciplinary approach for optimal outcomes. The successful extraction of the stone via endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) with sphincterotomy demonstrates the efficacy of this therapeutic strategy. This report emphasizes the need for heightened vigilance and comprehensive evaluation in the postoperative management of gallstone disease, contributing valuable insights into the complexities of choledocholithiasis post-cholecystectomy.

Keywords: advanced imaging; choledocholithiasis; laparoscopic cholecystectomy; multidisciplinary management; post-cholecystectomy complications.

Publication types

  • Case Reports