title: Non-operative treatment for gall-stone ileus - a case report.
abstract: Gall-stone intestinal obstruction (GSO) is an unusual form of mechanical obstruction and a rare complication of cholelithiasis. The treatment options are controversial, usually the management is surgical but associated with significant morbidity and mortality. A spontaneous evacuation of the gall-stone that had induced GSO is even more exceptional, only few reports being published up to date. We report the case of an 81-year-old female patient presenting GSO admitted to our department due to abdominal pain and vomiting. Computed tomography revealed pneumobilia, distention of the ileum and a calcified mass in the small bowel lumen. The diagnosis of GSO was established, but since the gall-stone was <25 mm and severe cardiorespiratory co-morbidities conservative treatment was initiated and spontaneous evacuation of the gall-stone was obtained. Diagnostic and management modalities of GSO as well as literature reviews are reported.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Surgery N. Anestiadi and Laboratory of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, Medical University N. Testemitsanu, National Center of Emergency Medicine, Kishinev, Moldova.
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mishin
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ghidirim
authors.forename: Gheorghe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zastavnitsky
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002769:Cholelithiasis / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D042882:Gallstones / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*