A rare complication of laparoscopic surgery

Gallstone disease is one of the most common problems affecting the digestive tract. Symptomatic patients are advised to undergo laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), which is considered the gold standard of care in these patients. LC has clear advantages over traditional surgery such as a shorter hospital stay, an earlier return to work and better patient satisfaction. Despite LC being a common surgical procedure, it is not totally free from complications. These include cardiorespiratory problems, biliary leakage, peritonitis, hemorrhage and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) occlusion. We report an unusual and fatal complication of LC, being SMA thrombosis complicated by multiple intra-abdominal collections, abdominal compartment syndrome, multiorgan failure and septic shock.