28 Mar 2019Case Report
Gallstone ileus of the sigmoid colon
Giovanni Petracca 1Michele Ruggiero 2Andrea Zappia 1Cristian Lebrino 1Francesco Zappia 1Carlo Talarico 1
Affiliations
Article Info
1 Department of Surgery, Jazzolino Hospital of Vibo Valentia, Vibo Valentia, Italy
2 Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Catanzaro, Italy
Ann. Ital. Chir., 2019, 8(March), 1-4;
Published: 28 Mar 2019
Copyright (c) 2019 Annali Italiani di Chirurgia
Abstract
Gallstone ileus is a complication of cholelithiasis which is due to gallstone migration through a fistula between the gallbladder and the gastrointestinal tract followed by intraluminal impaction. This uncommon form of mechanical bowel obstruction occurs in <1% of patients with cholelithiasis. Gallstone ileus due to cholecystocolonic fistula is rare, and therefore appropriate surgical treatment is still a matter of debate. We describe a unusual case of gallstone ileus in a 74-year-old man with a history of cholelithiasis, admitted to our hospital with suspected largebowel obstruction. The diagnosis was made with abdominal computed tomography scan that showed a very large gallstone impacted in the sigmoid causing mechanical bowel obstruction. After endoscopic removal was attempted but proved unsuccessful, enterotomy was performed to remove the gallstone. At surgery a Meckel’s diverticulum was discovered incidentally and removed and trasversostomy was performed. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 10.
Keywords
- Gallstone ileus
- Endoscopy
- Large bowel obstruction
- Cholecystocolonic fistula
- Meckel’s diverticulum