title: A case of gallstone ileus displaying spontaneous closure of cholecystoduodenal fistula after enterolithotomy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gallstone ileus, a rare complication of cholelithiasis and cholecystitis, is a relatively rare cause of alimentary tract obstruction. It is usually associated with a cholecystoenteric fistula through which a gallstone has passed into the gastrointestinal tract. Cholecystoenteric fistula uncommonly closes spontaneously, the period between formation and closure having rarely been reported. In addition, endoscopic detection of cholecystoenteric fistulous closure has seldom been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a 51-year-old Japanese man with gallstone ileus in whom spontaneous closure of a cholecystoduodenal fistula was observed by endoscopy 2 weeks after laparoscopy-assisted enterolithotomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laparoscopy-assisted enterolithotomy for gallstone ileus allows direct diagnosis of gallstone ileus and assessment of the status of adhesions affecting the biliary tract.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic confirmation of fistulous closure after laparoscopy-assisted enterolithotomy is a minimally invasive approach that may avert the need for biliary surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Iwate Prefectural Esashi Hospital, 5-23 Nishiodori, Esashi, Oshu, Iwate 023-1103, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shioi
authors.forename: Shuji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kawamura
authors.forename: Kiminori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kanno
authors.forename: Yutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nishinari
authors.forename: Kousei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ikeda
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noro
authors.forename: Fumishi
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kooka