It has been reported that the incidence of spilled gallstones during laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be from 6-40%. Treatment of these sequelae are often reactive to symptoms produced from the presence of the spilled stones. Herein is presented a case of a 57 year old male with a history of left lower quadrant abdominal pain that had been present for several years and was thought to be due to diverticulitis. On diagnostic laparoscopy he was found to have multiple stones causing an inflammatory response in his left lower quadrant. These stones were removed and the left lower quadrant was washed out. The patient recovered well and had abatement of symptoms at his two months postoperative visit. This case is an example of a spilled gallstones being confused as diverticulitis. Recognition of the spilled stones on diagnostic laparoscopy spared the patient a larger operation and resulted in his symptoms resolving.
Keywords: diverticulitis; spilled gallstones.