Intestinal obstruction induced by gallstone migration through unusual location of a cholecystogastric fistula: A rare case report

Gallstone ileus is a rare condition resulting from cholelithiasis, associated with the formation of a fistula between the gallbladder and the intestinal tract. It is responsible for less than 0.1 % of cases of mechanical bowel obstruction. A 54-year-old male with hypertension presented with symptoms of intestinal obstruction, including inability to pass stool, anorexia, abdominal pain, vomiting, and oliguria. Physical examination revealed epigastric tenderness and a distended abdomen without jaundice. Laboratory tests indicated mild anemia. The patient initially refused any surgical interventions, so he was placed on conservative treatment for 24 h. Subsequently, an emergency exploratory open laparotomy was performed, revealing a gallstone causing small bowel obstruction. A constricted ileal loop, 15 cm in length, with stone impaction was resected, and an end-to-end anastomosis was performed. A cholecystogastric fistula was identified and repaired, and a retrograde cholecystectomy was performed. The patient recovered without complications. Gallstone ileus occurs when a fistula develops between the gallbladder and the intestinal tract. Notably, the presence of a fistula connecting the gallbladder and stomach ranges from 0 % to 13.3 %. Cholecystoenteric fistulas (CEFs) typically occur in elderly women in their seventh or eighth decade of life. Diagnosis often relies on CT scanning, and surgical intervention remains the primary treatment. Interestingly, despite improved awareness and imaging techniques, some cases are still discovered incidentally during surgery. This case highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges posed by gallstone ileus, and emphasizes the importance of considering gallstone-related disorders in differential diagnoses for acute abdominal obstruction. •Gallstone ileus is a rare condition resulting from cholelithiasis, affecting only 0.3–0.5 % of patients.•The reported case involved a unique cholecystogastric fistula between the gallbladder and the pyloric canal.•Diagnosis and treatment are challenging.•It is important to consider gallstone-related disorders in the differential diagnosis of acute abdominal obstruction.