Combined laparoscopic cholecystectomy with ileostomy reversal: A method of delayed definitive management of postoperative gallstone pancreatitis

Traditional management of gallstone pancreatitis (GP) has been to perform cholecystectomy during the same hospital admission after resolution. However, when GP develops in the immediate postoperative period from a major colorectal operation, cholecystectomy may be fraught with difficulty due to the inflammatory response that occurs. Thus, delaying cholecystectomy until the inflammatory response subsides may be worthwhile, and it maximizes the chances of completing the cholecystectomy laparoscopically. We have described our management of 2 patients with GP occurring after colorectal operations, which required proximal diverting ileostomy. In both cases, we deferred management of GP with either endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) or medical conservative measures during the acute attack and performed laparoscopic cholecystectomy during ostomy reversal surgery utilizing the existing ostomy takedown site for port placement. Both patients tolerated this management well.