[Biliary ileus: personal cases]

After a short review of world literature on the subject, four cases of biliary ileus, all with favourable outcome, are reported. Some considerations on the pathogenesis of occlusion of biliary origin and on its treatment are then set out: such treatment must always be surgical and of emergency type, providing not only for removal of the obstructing calculus, but also for exploration of the whole ileus. Where possible, cholecystectomy and closure of the bilio-digestive fistula should also be performed.