Clinical considerations of cases of biliary ileus

The authors report 6 cases of gallstone ileus due to cholecystoduodenal fistula. In 4 patients a simple enterolithotomy was performed, while in one case the enterolithotomy was associated to cholecystectomy and duodenal suture; in the last patient it was associated to cholecystectomy and gastric resection. Only one death was registered among the cases treated with enterolithotomy. The authors believe that the severity of the pathology, generally combined with other important diseases, needs an eclectic treatment depending on the patient status.