Follow-up to ‘Cholecystectomy in the presence of a large patent foramen ovale: laparoscopic or open?’

We previously reported an obese patient with cholelithiasis and acute cholecystitis, who was scheduled to undergo an emergency laparoscopic cholecystectomy, but was recognized preoperatively to have a large patent foramen ovale (PFO) with a right-to-left shunt that was open at rest . She also had concomitant choledocholithiasis, and she underwent an endoscopic sphincterotomy with prompt resolution of her fever and abdominal pain. At the time, the benefits of laparoscopy were weighed against the risk of paradoxical emboli and stroke, and the choice of either a laparoscopic or open cholecystectomy was discussed carefully with the patient and her family. The patient chose to return home, and she declined surgical intervention.
Source: Journal of Clinical Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Correspondence Source Type: research