Incomplete gallbladder removal following open and laparoscopic techniques leads to residual gallbladder stones. The commonest presentation is abdominal pain, dyspepsia and jaundice. We reviewed the literature to report diagnostic modalities, management options and outcomes in patients with residual gallbladder stones after cholecystectomy.

Residual gallbladder stones following incomplete gallbladder removal is an important sequelae after cholecystectomy. Completion cholecystectomy (open or laparoscopic) is the most common treatment modality reported in the literature for the management of residual gallbladder stones.

Gallstone recurrence after cholecystectomy is associated with complications such as biliary sepsis and pancreatitis. As yet, variant ABCG8-D19H is the most widely recognized genetic risk factor for gallstone disease.

Retained abdominal gallstones can cause various postoperative problems including extra-abdominal complications. In case of perforation of the gallbladder during laparoscopic cholecystectomy, spilled gallstones should be collected to prevent further complications but conversion to open surgery is not mandatory.