Surgical clip migration following laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a cause of cholangitis

Abstract

Gallstone disease is a common surgical presentation, and laparoscopic cholecystectomy is the favoured method of surgical management. Ligation of the cystic duct is usually performed with surgical clips, which have the potential to migrate into the common bile duct with time. This paper describes a case of cholangitis secondary to clip migration in a 42-year-old male patient 9 years after the initial laparoscopic cholecystectomy. Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreaography imaging revealed a surgical clip lodged in dilated common bile duct. The patient was managed successfully by endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography.