Response of gallstone ileus to conservative therapy

Unusual Presentation of Recurrent Gallstone Ileus: A Case Report and Literature Review

Background

Gallstone ileus (GSI) is a rare form of small bowel obstruction (SBO) in patients with cholelithiasis, which is often poorly managed. Enhanced abdominal computed tomography (CT) with contrast is considered the most helpful diagnostic tool, as it is highly sensitive, specific, and accurate. We report an interesting case of recurrent GSI that was not detected by CT but diagnosed intraoperatively.

Case Presentation

A 49-year-old female with a previous history of choledocholithiasis and ERCP presented to the emergency department following episodes of sudden cramping, epigastric pain, and nausea. An abdominal CT revealed evidence of SBO with clear evidence of GSI and a cholecystoduodenal fistula. Laparoscopic exploration of the small bowel revealed a large, calcified 3.5 cm × 3 cm gallstone with evidence of pressure necrosis; segmental bowel resection with stapled anastomosis was performed and patient recovered appropriately after surgery. Cholecystectomy was not performed due to multiple co-morbidities and absence of gallbladder stones. However, she presented two months later with signs and symptoms of SBO. A repeat abdominal CT showed dilated bowel with no clear transition point. This was suspected to be due to adhesions. After an initial conservative treatment which produced mild improvement, laparotomy was performed which revealed a second large non-calcified gallstone and necrotic small bowel with a pocket of abscess.

Conclusion

The most sensitive diagnostic tool for GSI is enhanced abdominal CT but dilemma arises when GSI is not detected on CT. A high index of suspicion and further exploration are required in order not to miss other vital findings.

Recurrent Gallstone Ileus Successfully Treated with Conservative Therapy

Gallstone ileus is a rare complication of cholecystolithiasis, with the majority of cases requiring surgical treatment. In this paper, we describe a case of gallstone ileus that was successfully treated twice with conservative therapy. An 85-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of abdominal pain and vomiting. She had previously been treated with antibiotics for cholecystitis arising from 2 gallbladder stones. Computed tomography (CT) revealed that the small bowel was dilated and that 1 of the gallbladder stones had disappeared. In addition, a 28×22-mm calcified mass was found in the small-bowel lumen. We diagnosed gallstone ileus and performed nasogastric drainage for decompression. Follow-up CT revealed migration of the impacted stone, and symptoms had improved. However, 2 months after discharge, the patient's symptoms recurred. A CT scan revealed that the small bowel was again dilated and that the remaining gallstone had disappeared from the gallbladder. A 28×25-mm calcified mass was found in the small-bowel lumen. We diagnosed recurrent gallstone ileus. Because the gallstone was almost the same size as the previous one, we selected the same conservative decompression treatment. Fourteen days after the patient was admitted, the stone was evacuated with the feces. Although many cases of gallstone ileus require surgical treatment, spontaneous passage was achieved in this case. When treatment is chosen for gallstone ileus, the patient's presentation and clinical course must be considered.

Gallstone ileus inducing obstructive jaundice at the afferent loop of Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy after bile duct cancer surgery: a case report

The diagnosis of gallstone ileus is occasionally challenging due to the variability of its presentation. We herein present a very rare case of gallstone ileus inducing obstructive jaundice at the afferent loop of Roux-en-Y hepaticojejunostomy after 10 years of bile duct cancer surgery. We describe the case of a 74-year-old Korean woman with obstructive jaundice, treated conservatively. She showed severely impaired liver function test and obstructive jaundice. The computed tomography (CT) scan led to a diagnosis of very rare type of gallstones ileus at the afferent jejunal loop. Since the clinical manifestation was improved, we decided to observe her closely. On the next follow-up CT scan, the gallstone disappeared with mild distension of the afferent bowel loop, implicating spontaneous passage of the gallstone. She recovered and returned to normal life after 10 days of initiation of clinical manifestations. We presume that the gallstone may enter the afferent jejunal loop through the hepaticojejunostomy and later increase in size. The presence of narrow tract of intestine may facilitate the incidence of gallstone ileus. It appears to be the first report on this rare type of gallstone ileus inducing obstructive jaundice.