[Gallstone ileus (author's transl)].

Gallstone ileus may complicate biliary disease in 0.3 to 4.0%. The incidence of mechanical obstruction of the small intestine due to gallstones is between 0.1 and 7.7%. This being an illness of the elderly patient, the prognosis is most unfavorable. The mortality lies between 10 and 50%. Further lowering of the mortality rate is only possible by early surgery.