Gallstone ileus: diagnostic pitfalls and therapeutic successes

Gallstone ileus is a surgical emergency that occurs almost exclusively in the elderly. It is of increasing significance with current demographic changes. Clinical records and diagnostic imaging of 15 consecutive patients treated for gallstone ileus at one hospital over a 6-year period were reviewed. The median patient age was 80 years. Six plain-film diagnoses were made correctly. Contrast studies provided a diagnosis of intestinal obstruction in four patients. Abdominal X-ray findings were assessed incorrectly in two patients, with one false-positive and one false-negative result. The median preoperative hospital stay was 2 days. Three patients had Bouveret's syndrome, two of whom required a gastrostomy and enterolithotomy, and one of whom required a gastroenterostomy. The remaining 12 patients underwent enterolithotomies. Only one patient underwent a cholecystectomy. There was one postoperative death. No patient had biliary symptoms on follow-up. Gallstone ileus is a difficult clinical and radiologic diagnosis. Enterolithotomy alone is adequate treatment in the elderly, and subsequent cholecystectomy is not mandatory.