Endoclip migration after laparoscopic splenectomy combined with pericardial devascularization: Case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: Endoclip migration(ECM) after laparoscopic splenectomy combined with pericardial devascularization (LESD) is a rare and dangerous postoperative complication. The emergence of such cases led to our consideration of the timing of use of nonabsorbable endoclips. CASE PRESENTATION: This case report describes a patient with cirrhosis and portal hypertension who underwent LESD. Two years after the operation, an endoclip was found in the fornix of the fundus of his stomach by gastroscopy. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: A 66-year-old male patient had a history of liver cirrhosis for 9 years. Two years prior, LESD was performed on this patient in our hospital. This time, due to ‘repeated black stool for 1 month, and hematemesis 1 time’, the patient was admitted to the hospital. A diagnosis of ‘liver cirrhosis with esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding’ was considered. Gastroscopy revealed a fundal foreign body, and upon review of the patient history, the foreign body was found to be a nonabsorbable endoclip. CONCLUSION: Foreign literature has reported cases of biliary endoclip migration after laparoscopic cholecystectomy, but no cases of ECM after LESD have been reported. For such cases, we should consider the timing of the application of nonabsorbable endoclips during vascular devascularization to avoid ECM after the operation. In addition, we should also comprehensively evaluate whether the ectopic endoclips should be removed.