title: Resolution of gallstone ileus with spontaneous evacuation of gallstone.
abstract: Gallstone ileus (GSI) is a rare cause of small bowel obstruction (SBO). Even more extraordinary is the spontaneous evacuation of a gallstone, which has caused SBO. A 69-year-old gentleman presented with symptoms and signs of SBO. His plain abdominal X-ray revealed dilated loops of the small bowel and opacity in the region of the terminal ileum consistent with a diagnosis of GSI. Because of severe cardiorespiratory co-morbidities, the patient was treated conservatively and improved within 24 h. A CT scan revealed that the stone had passed into the rectum and was spontaneously evacuated. If the gallstone is <2.5 cm on CT scan, spontaneous evacuation is a real possibility and initial conservative treatment in a high-risk surgical patient is a consideration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Whiston Hospital, Prescot, Merseyside, UK.
authors.forename: Ansar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Farooq
authors.forename: Breda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Memon
authors.forename: Muhammed Ashraf
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Memon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005440:Fluid Therapy; D042882:Gallstones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D045823:Ileus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed