Gallstone Ileus: An Unusual Cause of Small Bowel Obstruction: A Case Report

Gallstone ileus represents a rare complication of chronic cholelithiasis\r\nand is considered a mechanical bowel obstruction caused by one or more\r\ngallstones becoming lodged in the gastrointestinal tract. The etiology of\r\ngallstone ileus is due to the transit of a calculum through a cholecystointestinal\r\nfistula. In all cases of acute abdomen, diagnostic suspicion and appropriate first\r\nsurgical treatment are important for an adequate clinical progression due to\r\nits low incidence. On other hand, due to the high incidence of gallstones, such\r\nsituations may arise in ordinary clinical practices, and clinicians should evaluate\r\ngallstone ileus as a possible cause of bowel obstruction. However, because of\r\nthe poor general health of ileus patients, choosing an appropriate treatment is\r\nchallenging, and clinicians must make a decision on which surgery to perform.\r\nWe present a case of an elderly patient who presented to our emergency\r\ndepartment with gallstone ileus that received a prompt diagnosis and urgent\r\nsurgical resolution.