Embolism of a metallic clip: an unusual complication following laparoscopic cholecystectomy.

A 32-year-old woman underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy during which there was severe bleeding from the bed of the gallbladder. As application of metallic clips to control the bleeding was not successful, the operation was converted to an open laparotomy. Cholecystectomy was successfully completed without further complications, and the post-operative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged. Eighteen months later, the patient complained of dyspnea. Plain radiograph and computed tomography of the thorax showed a metallic clip in the branch of the pulmonary artery supplying the posterior basal segment of the inferior lobe of the left lung. There was no connection between the patient's symptoms and the clip embolism. Nevertheless, clip migration or embolism could cause severe complications. Therefore, metallic clips should not be used to stop bleeding from the gallbladder bed. Copyright 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.