To the Editor:—
In response to Dr. Allen's letter to THE JOURNAL dated April 3, 1970, the following represents the facts as recorded in the patient's chart:
On March 4, 1969, the patient had an elective cholecystectomy under halothane and nitrous oxide anesthesia with a preoperative diagnosis of chronic cholecystitis and cholelithiasis. The operation was uneventful with an estimated blood loss of 150 ml. The findings were specifically those of a "large gallbladder with two palpable stones and pericholecystitic adhesions."
On March 5, the patient's vital signs were stable, the nasogastric tube was removed and gradual ambulation and intake orally was initiated. She developed (on March 5) signs of pulmonary congestion on the left.
On March 6, the operative site was examined and reportedly "looked good." Bowel sounds were also "good." Later that day while "straining in the bathroom" the patient "felt something give" and serosanguineous fluid appeared in the
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