A case of gallstone ileus treated with single-port laparoscopic surgery

Abstract

We report a case of a gallstone ileus successfully treated with single-port laparoscopy-assisted enterolithotomy. A 56-year-old woman with schizophrenia who did not have a history of surgery developed vomiting and abdominal distention, which was initially treated conservatively. Abdominal X-ray showed distended intestine, pneumobilia, and a 3-cm calculus stone in the mid-lower abdomen ; emergency surgery was required given the diagnosis of gallstone ileus. Single-port access laparoscopy revealed the site of the ileal obstruction, and severe adhesions around the gallbladder were noted. Enterolithotomy was performed using the port incision site. It is now recognized that laparoscopic treatment is feasible for the treatment of gallstone ileus given its safety and decreased invasiveness. We successfully performed single-port laparoscopic surgery, which is safer and less invasive than using the conventional laparoscopic approach in a patient with gallstone ileus.