Inadvertent Gallbladder Stenting During Endoscopic Management of Choledocholithiasis Detected During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy: A Case Report

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreaticography (ERCP) is the standard management protocol for choledocholithiasis, which more often than not involves a placement of stent in the common bile duct. Here we present a case of inadvertent stenting of the cystic duct and gallbladder during ERCP for choledocholithiasis which was detected during laparoscopic cholecystectomy. A 38 year old lady presented with jaundice and right upper quadrant pain, diagnosed with choledocholithiasis, underwent ERCP with stenting and stone extraction. After 6 weeks, she underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy, when it was noticed that the biliary stent was inadvertently placed into the cystic duct and gallbladder. The stent was removed laparoscopically through a rent in the gallbladder and cystic duct stump clipped. We report this case to enhance awareness amongst surgeons regarding the unintended location of a biliary stent.