Gallstone ileus due to cholecystoduodenal fistula: a case report

In this case study, a patient had gallstone ileus due to a cholecystoduodenal fistula. The patient had a large gallstone, 4 cm in diameter. The most common surgery to tread this condition involves incising into the intestines to remove the gallstone. Cholecystectomy and fistula repair are performed in a one-stage operation or in multiple-stage operations. However, we decompressed the intestines by inserting an indwelling catheter and improved gastrointestinal motility using traditional Chinese medicine simultaneously to remove the gallstone, and then the gallbladder was removed through laparoscopic cholecystectomy, and the fistula was repaired. The patient suffered little discomfort and recovered quickly using this approach.