Investigations
The main distinguishing features of gallstone ileus are small bowel obstruction with the presence of pneumobilia and a gallstone in the right iliac fossa on X-ray/CT (referred to as Rigler's triad): (1)
- gas in the biliary tree:
- 40% of cases
- 40% of cases
- a gallstone in the intestine:
- often at the ileo-caecal junction
- often at the ileo-caecal junction
- small bowel obstruction
In practice, plain abdominal films demonstrate small bowel obstruction, ultrasound scanning shows biliary tract pathology and CT scanning then makes the final diagnosis.
Reference
- Shekhda KM, Abro AH, Gupta A, et al; Gallstone Ileus. Chonnam Med J. 2021 Jan;57(1):91-92.
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