Complications

Complication
Timeframe
Likelihood
short term
medium

Thickened gallbladder wall with white cell infiltration, intra-wall abscesses, and necrosis. This may result in perforation of the gallbladder and a pericholecystic abscess formation.[3]

short term
low

A rare complication of cholecystectomy.[100]​ Therapy involves endoscopic stenting, percutaneous transhepatic dilation, and surgical reconstruction.[100] Early recognition and adequate multidisciplinary approach involving specialists is the cornerstone for an optimal final outcome.[100]

short term
low

Caused by a gallstone passing from the biliary tract into the intestinal tract (through a fistula), leading to small-intestinal obstruction.[4] The gallstone grows during its passage. Treatment is with enterotomy (proximal to the obstruction site because of the risk of closing compromised bowel) and stone extraction. This is followed by cholecystectomy in an inflammatory-free interval 4 to 6 weeks later.

short term
low

The most common sites for fistulas are the duodenum and the hepatic flexure of the colon.

Decompression of the gallbladder because of a fistula may cause resolution of the acute cholecystitis.[4][101]

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