Intrahepatic abscess secondary to retained stercolith, following laparoscopic appendectomy

Abscesses of the peritoneal cavity and in particular hepatic abscess due to stercolith retention are a rare complication of appendectomy. Their prevalence is likely to increase as laparoscopic appendectomies become more common. This potentially serious complication can be prevented by following certain technical recommendations. Percutaneous drainage is bound to failure since it leaves the coprolite that causes the recurrence of the abscess, thus when it happens it requires surgical drainage. We report a case of a 40-year-old man, who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy 8 months prior, and presented to the emergency department for acute pain of the right hypochondrium. The radiologic investigations revealed 2 abscesses of the liver and the right iliac fossa containing a central spontaneously hyperdense stercolith. The patient was treated with open surgery removing the stercoliths and draining of the abscesses, with favorable postoperative outcome.