International Journal of Gerontology
Volume 2, Issue 1 , Pages 18-21, March 2008

Gallstone Ileus: A Disease Easily Ignored in the Elderly

  • Chen-Wang Chang

      Affiliations

    • Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Shou-Chuan Shih

      Affiliations

    • Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Shee-Chan Lin

      Affiliations

    • Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Cheng-Hsin Chu

      Affiliations

    • Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Tsang-En Wang

      Affiliations

    • Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan
    • ,
  • Wen-Hsiung Chang

      Affiliations

    • Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Mackay Medicine, Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorrespondence to: Dr Wen-Hsiung Chang, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, 92, Section 2, Chung-Shan North Road, Taipei, Taiwan

Accepted 10 September 2007.

Article Outline

Summary 

Gallstone ileus is an uncommon cause of small bowel obstruction, accounting for only 1–4% of all intestinal obstructions. In patients with cholelithiasis, only 0.3–0.5% reportedly develop gallstone ileus. However, the condition causes 25% of cases of non-strangulated small bowel obstruction in those over the age of 65 years. We report a patient with gallstone ileus who presented with small bowel obstruction that was initially misdiagnosed. The correct diagnosis was made based on finding an ectopic gallstone on plain abdominal radiography, a cholecystoduodenal fistula, and gallstone impaction in a small bowel follow-through study. [International Journal of Gerontology 2008; 2(1): 18–21]

Key Words:  elderly , gallstone , ileus

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PII: S1873-9598(08)70004-8

doi:10.1016/S1873-9598(08)70004-8

International Journal of Gerontology
Volume 2, Issue 1 , Pages 18-21, March 2008

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