Giant duodenal gallstone presenting as gastric outlet obstruction: Bouveret's syndrome

In a 91 year old woman with nausea and vomiting, the diagnosis of Bouveret's syndrome was considered when a barium meal disclosed a cholecystoduodenal fistula and a giant filling defect in the duodenum. Because of her age and underlying medical illness, operative therapy was initially deferred. Repeated attempts to remove the intermittently obstructing duodenal gallstone endoscopically were unsuccessful using both endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography retrieval baskets and an endoscopic mechanical lithotripter. The patient was referred for definitive operative therapy, and was discharged after a successful and uneventful enterolithotomy.