Gallstone ileus: report of a case successfully treated by a laparoscopically-assisted enterolithotomy

Abstract

Gallstone ileus is an unusual cause of small bowel obstruction that occurs more frequently in elderly patients. The diagnosis is always very challenging and in most of cases this rare complication is misdiagnosed before surgery. The Authors report on a 81-year-old woman with small bowel obstruction who was laparoscopically diagnosed with gallstone ileus and successfully treated by a laparoscopically-assisted enterolithotomy.