Background:

Gall-stone ileus is a weird complication of the lithiasic cholecyst since it represents only 1 to 3% of the bowel obstuccion cases. It was described for the first time by Bartoin in 1654, the gall-stone ileus happens due to a cronic obstruccion in the cistic duct than causes gallbladder necrosis and a bile enteric fistula. In 1941, Rigler described the classic triad for the gall-stone ileus.

Clinical case:

A 56-year-old woman that had a diagnosis of hepatic failure, suddenly presented abdominal distension, constipation and obstipation. The abdominal tomography showed data that suggested a bowel occlusion, therefore, we performed an exploratory laparotomy and found distension of the bowel loops and the presence of three gall stones, that were removed with enterolitotomy. The pacient had a good posquirurgic evolution and was discharged from hospital.

Conclusions:

The gall-stone ileus is a rare cause for bowel occlusion that requires surgical treatment; it needs a high level of suspicion for its diagnoses and management.

        · abstract in Spanish     · text in Spanish     · Spanish ( pdf )