Chonnam Med J.  2004 Sep;40(3):161-164.

A Case Report of Small Bowel Mechanical Obstruction due to Gallstone

• Ki YH
• Whang SH
• Lee BG
• Cho YC
• Kang WY
• Cho ET
• Seo YH

Abstract

Gallstone ileus is a relatively uncommon complication of gallstone cholecystitis and a mechanical obstruction caused by the impaction of one or more gallstones within the lumen of any part of the gastrointestinal tract. It usually occurs in elderly women. The resulting inflammation and adhesions facilitate the erosion of the offending gallstone through the gallbladder wall forming a cholecystoenteric fistula and allowing the passage of the gallstone. A 82-year-old female visited the Gwangju Veteran's hospital for right upper quadrant abdominal pain persisting for 3 days. Plain abdomen films revealed moderately dilated loops of small bowel with air-fluid levels. Computed tomography showed the dilated loops of small bowel, air in the biliary tract and stone in the ileum. The impacted stones were removed by surgical intervention and symptoms were subsided. Here we report one case of gallstone ileus diagnosed by compotued tomography.

Keyword

Gallstone ileus; Mechanical obstruction

MeSH Terms

Abdomen
Abdominal Pain
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Biliary Tract
Cholecystitis
Female
Fistula
Gallbladder
Gallstones*
Gastrointestinal Tract
Gwangju
Humans
Ileum
Ileus
Inflammation