Gallstone ileus: A possible cause of bowel obstruction in the elderly population

Marco De Monti; Giovanni Cestaro; Suleiman Alkayyali; Jacopo Galafassi; Fabrizio Fasolini

doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2018.01.010

Gallstone ileus: A possible cause of bowel obstruction in the elderly population

Int J Surg Case Rep. 2018:43:18-20. doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2018.01.010. Epub 2018 Feb 4.

Authors

Marco De Monti¹, Giovanni Cestaro², Suleiman Alkayyali¹, Jacopo Galafassi¹, Fabrizio Fasolini¹

Affiliations

¹ EOC - "Beata Vergine" Mendrisio Regional Hospital, Department of Surgery, Via Alfonso Turconi, 23, CH 6850, Mendrisio, Canton Ticino, Switzerland.
² EOC - "Beata Vergine" Mendrisio Regional Hospital, Department of Surgery, Via Alfonso Turconi, 23, CH 6850, Mendrisio, Canton Ticino, Switzerland. Electronic address: giovanni.cestaro@eoc.ch.

Abstract

Introduction: Gallstone ileus (GI) is characterized by a mechanical occlusion of the ileal lumen as a result of migration of one or more gallstones in the intestinal tract. Less than 1-4% of all cases of intestinal obstruction are derived from this etiology (1,2,3).

Case report: We present a case of small intestinal obstruction owing to a large gallstone in lower ileum in a 66 years old woman. The diagnosis was made by computed tomography, and treated successfully with an enterotomy, with a removal of a 5 cm gallstone, carried out through a longitudinal incision on the antimesenteric border. Post-operative course presented no adverse effects.

Conclusion: Gallstone ileus should be considered in case of bowel obstruction in the elderly population. Abdominal CT scan is the preferred investigation for a timely diagnosis.

Keywords: Bowel obstruction; Case report; Emergency surgery; Gallstone ileus.