Gallstone ileus after recent cholecystectomy. Case report and review of the literature.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Gallstone ileus in cholecystectomized patients is very infrequent and when it happens shortly after surgery is even rarer. We report the case of a patient who presented Gallstone ileus few days after open cholecystectomy which has not been reported before in literature.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 52-year-old male with a history of recent open cholecystectomy was referred to our center due to a presumable surgical complication. During his hospitalization while trying to restart the oral route he presented abdominal pain and nausea. He evolved toward a bowel obstruction. We suspected gallstone ileus based on medical history as well as preoperative image study. We confirmed the diagnostic using a Computed Tomography. Surgical management was performed and a large gallstone was extracted from the bowel. The patient progressed favorably and was discharged. He was asymptomatic during the follow-up.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Cholecystectomized patients who have been reported with Gallstone ileus demonstrate different pathophysiological mechanisms or extraordinary presentations. This case describes a unique presentation illustrating relevant aspects of this pathology such as showing that acute cholecystitis can be its clinical manifestation or that it could happen after a cholecystoenteric fistula is found during a cholecystectomy.

CONCLUSION

Gallstone ileus in cholecystectomized patients is very rare. Clinical suspicion remains the cornerstone of diagnosis.