Experiences with simultaneous exploration of the bile ducts in surgical therapy of gallstone ileus
Keck, H.; Langrehr, J.M.; Knoop, M.; Blumhardt, G.; Pappert, D.; Neuhaus, P.
Der Chirurg; Zeitschrift für Alle Gebiete der Operativen Medizen 64(12): 1018-1023
1993
ISSN/ISBN: 0009-4722 PMID: 8119086 Document Number: 408954
During the last 16 years, 14 patients with a gallstone ileus were treated at our institution. In 11 cases we performed in addition to the enterolithotomy, a cholecystectomy and a resection of the fistula as one-stage repair. Despite the high average age (74.3 years) and the presence of various other serious morbidity in our patient population, we only observed a hospital mortality of 7.1%. Serious postoperative complications, such as sepsis and/or shock were not observed. Utilizing today's advanced anesthesia and proper intensive-care therapy, as well as early operative intervention and safe surgical technique, we believe that enterolithotomy with cholecystectomy and fistula resection as one-stage operation, should primarily be considered before performing enterolithotomy alone.