Gallstone Ileus Presenting As Small Bowel Obstruction: A Surgical Case Report

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon complication of cholelithiasis. This case report discusses an 83-year-old patient who presented with chronic, intermittent abdominal discomfort that progressed to persistent nausea and vomiting, necessitating hospital admission. A CT scan confirmed the diagnosis of gallstone ileus, demonstrating Rigler's triad. The patient was successfully managed with a surgical enterotomy, specifically an enterolithotomy. Notably, the patient had no prior admissions for gallstone-related issues, despite a history of recurrent abdominal symptoms that had not been previously investigated. This case highlights the importance of early diagnosis and management of cholelithiasis, even in asymptomatic patients, to prevent delayed complications such as gallstone ileus, and underscores the critical role of imaging in the preoperative assessment of bowel obstruction.