title: Management of gallstone ileus--a controversial issue.
abstract: Four cases of gallstone ileus were treated during a 3-year period. Three patients aged 74-81 years underwent a one-stage operation consisting of enterotomy, stone extraction, cholecystectomy, and suturing of the entero-biliary fistula. One 83-year-old patient was considered a poor risk and underwent only enterotomy with stone extraction, without cholecystectomy. In all four patients the postoperative course was uneventful. In one, carcinoma of the gallbladder was found. On the basis of this experience as well as that reported in the literature, it is concluded that the procedure to be preferred in stabilized patients is a one-stage operation, whereas in debilitated patients only relief of the obstruction should be sought.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery A, Beilinson Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubin
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Asseo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shimonov
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pakula
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mahagna
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antebi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001658:Biliary Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D002763:Cholecystectomy / Q000379:methods; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D004378:Duodenal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005705:Gallbladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007412:Intestinal Fistula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence