[Gallstone ileus]

Abstract

From 1965 to 1985 gallstone ileus was diagnosed and treated in 19 patients. The mean preoperative period of symptoms was five days; the correct diagnosis was made in only half the cases. Enterolithotomy alone has proven to be, in comparison with other methods, a reliable procedure with the fewest postoperative complications. Treatment of bilioenteric fistula was limited to symptomatic cases. Improvement of the results can be expected once the interval from first symptoms to operation is reduced.