A 75 years old woman with a recent history of constant right upper quadrant pain radiating to the right shoulder was referred to the hospital for symptomatic gallbladder microlithiasis. No relevant past medical history was referred and pre-operative tests did not show any pathological findings (at ultrasonography (US), spleen diameter 101mm). Laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed.
The total operative time was about 75 minutes, without any intraoperative complications or bleeding. The abdomen was normal without tenderness or guarding; no analgesic was required and there was a normal intestinal function 6 hours after surgery; normal values of postoperative blood tests have been found; post-operative drainage in Winslow was silent. During the first postoperative day, at about 12 hours after the operation, she experienced self limiting lipotimic episode (pulse of 120 beats/minute,…
