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Updated: Aug 8, 2026

Ileectomy-induced Bile Overaccumulation in Mouse Intestine
Published on: August 21, 2017
[Cholesterol embolism: unusual cause of small intestine occlusion]
E Lederman1, M L Petit, A Boruchowicz
1Services d'Hépato-Gastroentérologie, Hôpital Huriez, CHU, 59037 Lille.
Abstract:
We describe a case of small bowel obstruction secondary to cholesterol crystal embolism in a 83-year-old man. Clinical symptoms were dominated by weight loss and vomiting. Small bowel barrium X-ray displayed a short and unique stricture of the jejunum. Atheromatous embolism was suspected in the presence of an aortic aneurysm. At laparotomy, a 2 cm stricture of jejunum was identified and a 6 cm length segment of small bowel was resected. Pathological features were consistent with cholesterol crystal embolism. The patient did well 3 months after surgery. This observation points out the nonspecific clinical presentation of gastrointestinal cholesterol embolism.
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