Delayed gallstone ileus caused by a dropped gallstone presenting as atypical duodenal diverticulitis 22 years after cholecystectomy: a case report

Autori:

Igor Vrga, Antun Šarić, Boris Vrga

Sažetak
Bilijarni ileus rijetka je komplikacija kolelitijaze koja čini 1–4% mehaničkih opstrukcija tankog crijeva. Prezentacija bolesti više od dva desetljeća nakon kolecistektomije rijedak je klinički entitet, a najčešće je uzrokovana zaostalim kamencem u trbušnoj šupljini koji erodira u lumen probavne cijevi. Prikazujemo slučaj 65-godišnje bolesnice, kolecistektomirane 2004. godine, koja se inicijalno prezentirala kliničkom slikom bolova u abdomenu uz MSCT verifikaciju upalne tvorbe u području horizontalnog duodenuma (D3) interpretirane kao komplicirani divertikulitis. Nakon prolaznog poboljšanja na konzervativnu terapiju, bolesnica nakon početka enteralnog unosa razvija sliku mehaničkog ileusa uz povraćanje fekaloidnog tankocrijevnog sadržaja (miserere). Hitna eksplorativna laparotomija otkrila je impaktirani žučni kamenac u terminalnom ileumu uz tešku vensku stazu stijenke. Zbog ishemijskih promjena odustalo se od enterolitotomije te je učinjena resekcija kompromitiranog segmenta tankog crijeva s primarnom latero-lateralnom anastomozom. Ovaj slučaj naglašava važnost sumnje na bilijarni ileus i kod bolesnika s davno učinjenom kolecistektomijom. Erozija zaostalog kamenca može klinički i radiološki oponašati perforirani duodenalni divertikul, a pojava fekaloidnog povraćanja uz izolirani porast ureje predstavlja ključni znak teške staze crijevnog sadržaja uslijed distalne opstrukcije.
Summary

Gallstone ileus is a rare complication of cholelithiasis, accounting for 1% to 4% of mechanical small bowel obstructions. Presentation of the disease more than two decades after cholecystectomy is a rare clinical entity, most commonly caused by a retained gallstone in the abdominal cavity that erodes into the lumen of the digestive tract. We report the case of a 65-year-old female patient, who underwent cholecystectomy in 2004, initially presenting with abdominal pain and MSCT verification of an inflammatory mass in the area of the horizontal duodenum (D3), interpreted as complicated diverticulitis. Following transient improvement on conservative therapy, the patient developed signs of mechanical ileus after the initiation of enteral feeding, characterized by vomiting of fecaloid small bowel content (miserere). Emergency exploratory laparotomy revealed an impacted gallstone in the terminal ileum with severe venous stasis of the bowel wall. Due to ischemic changes, enterolithotomy was abandoned, and resection of the compromised small bowel segment with a primary latero-lateral anastomosis was performed. This case highlights the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion for gallstone ileus, even in patients with a remote history of cholecystectomy. The erosion of a retained stone can clinically and radiologically mimic a perforated duodenal diverticulum, and the onset of fecaloid vomiting accompanied by an isolated rise in serum urea represents a key sign of severe bowel stasis due to distal obstruction.