Primary Repair of the Cholecyst-enteric Fistula in Gallstone Ileus

Gallstone ileus is a rare cause of mechanical bowel obstruction. The attendant lack of awareness by the clinician will not only result in the diagnosis being made intraoperatively but will also affect the adequacy of the preoperative preparation of these ill patients. These patients are often elderly, septic and have significant concomitant medical illnesses. Recently two patients with gallstones ileus were managed with enterolithotomy and primary repair of the cholecyst-duodenal fistula at the University Hospital of the West Indies, Jamaica. Their clinical presentations and progress are described along with a review of the classical clinical course, radiological features, and operative choices available.