Gallstone Ileus Causing Mechanical Bowel Obstruction in a Patient With Caroli's Disease: A Case Report

TL;DR

A 65-year-old woman with Caroli's disease developed gallstone ileus, a rare cause of bowel obstruction, requiring surgical intervention.

Contribution

This case report highlights gallstone ileus as a rare complication in patients with Caroli's disease.

Findings

Gallstone ileus was diagnosed in a patient with Caroli's disease via CT scan.

Surgical removal of the obstructive gallstone was required.

The case emphasizes the need for high clinical suspicion in diagnosing rare causes of bowel obstruction.

Abstract

Gallstone ileus is a rare but significant cause of abdominal pain and mechanical bowel obstruction. Its management usually involves minimally invasive surgical intervention.

This case report describes a 65-year-old woman with a history of Caroli disease and prior abdominal surgery, who presented with a one-month history of progressive, cramp-like abdominal pain, accompanied by nausea and intermittent vomiting. Due to these persistent symptoms, she underwent a CT scan, which confirmed gallstone ileus with obstruction of a jejunal loop, necessitating surgical removal of the gallstone.

This case underscores the importance of integrating a patient’s medical history with their presenting symptoms and maintaining a high level of clinical suspicion for rare but serious causes of mechanical bowel obstruction that may otherwise be overlooked.

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