[Gallstone ileus].

Abstract

15 cases of gallstone ileus were seen during the period 1951-1981 at the 2nd Surgical Department of the University of Vienna which makes up 1,3% of a total of 1 162 cases of ileus during this time period. A review of this condition is warranted, because of the variability of clinical symptoms, the difficulty of establishing a diagnosis based on clinical and radiological findings, and because of letality (26%) in our patient group. Care has to be taken not to overlook air in the bile ducts on abdominal x-ray; the possibility of a gallstone ileus has always to be considered especially in cases with a history of cholelithiasis. Surgical therapy consists in enterotomy, removal of the stone and drainage. Closing of the fistula usually is unnecessary since in most cases the fistula tends to occlude spontaneously.