[Intestinal obstruction caused by gallstone: report of 5 cases and review of the literature].
OBJECTIVE
To explore clinical features, diagnostic methods and treatment of gallstone ileus.


METHODS
Clinical data of 5 patients with gallstone ileus were analyzed retrospectively. Pertinent literature from China between 2000 and 2009 were reviewed. The disease onset, clinical manifestations, imaging characteristics, diagnosis and treatment of gallstone ileus were studied.


RESULTS
Four out of 5 patients were female aged over 60, of whom 3 had a previous history of cholelithiasis, 2 had a history of cholangiojejunostomy internal drainage procedure. Four patients underwent enterotomy and gallstone extraction combined with hepatobiliary operation, while one underwent enterotomy alone. There was no postoperative recurrence. A review of the literature from China revealed 441 cases with intestinal obstruction caused by gallstone, consisting 1.15% of all the cases with bowel obstruction. 67.12% were female. 73.56% were elderly. 87.92% were from cystoenteral fistula. Site of bowel obstruction in ileum was 64.17% of the cases. 71.89% were misdiagnosed with other types of obstruction. Two hundred twenty-five patients underwent enterotomy and gallstone extraction combined with hepatobiliary operation, which carried a lower rate of postoperative recurrence and malignancy (P<0.05) than enterotomy alone. There were no statistical significant differences in the occurrence of postoperative cystoenteral fistula, wound infection, pulmonary infection, cure rate, and mortality(P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
The incidence of gallstone ileus is low and more common in female elderly. The gallstones often drain through cystoenteral fistula and lodge in the ileum. Enterotomy without hepatobiliary operation is associated with potential risk of recurrence and development of gallbladder malignancy. Combined hepatobiliary operation is recommended in patients without significant comorbidities.
Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Ningxiang Hospital, Hunan University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Hunan Ningxiang 410600, China. hjj7889508@sina.com
Jian-jun
JJ
He
Ke-qin
KQ
Xu
Jian-hua
JH
Tang
D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies