Gallstone ileus: A case report and review of the literature

Gallstone ileus (GI) is defined as the occlusion of the intestinal lumen due to the impaction of one or more gallstones. The optimal management of GI is not consensual. We report a rare case of GI with a successful surgical treatment for a 65 year-old-female.

A 65 year-old-woman, presented with biliary colic pain and vomiting for three days. On examination, she had a distended tympanic abdomen. A computed tomography scan revealed signs of small bowel obstruction due to a jejunal gallstone. She had pneumobilia due to a cholecysto-duodenal fistula. We performed a midline laparotomy. We found a dilated and ischemic jejunum with false membranes regarding the migrated gallstone. We performed a jejunal resection with primary anastomosis. We performed cholecystectomy and closed the cholecysto-duodenal fistula at the same operative time. The postoperative course was uneventful.

We reported successful surgical treatment for GI. It was a one-step procedure. GI is a rare situation. Due to their restricted lumen, the terminal ileum and the ileocaecal valve are where GI occurs most commonly. GI appears usually in elderly patients with comorbidities. The clinical presentation is not specific. CT scan evokes the diagnosis with high specificity. The surgical management of GI is not consensual. In our case, we performed bowel resection due to the presence of an ischemic intestine.

GI is a rare situation. It appears usually in elderly patients with comorbidities. The clinical presentation is not specific. The surgical management of GI is not consensual.