[Ultrasonographic diagnosis of a biliary-digestive fistula with gallstone ileus].

HISTORY AND CLINICAL FINDINGS: A 72-year-old woman was admitted to the hospital with upper abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and obstipation.

INVESTIGATIONS: Percutaneous ultrasound found aerobilia, a biliary-digestive fistula, and an ileus with gallstones within the small bowel. The findings were confirmed at computed tomography.

TREATMENT AND COURSE: A gallstone ileus on the basis of a biliary-digestive fistula was diagnosed. The patient was treated by surgery and with antibiotics.

CONCLUSION

This case report demonstrates that percutaneous ultrasonography should be used as the first imaging procedure in the diagnosis of acute abdominal pain. This procedure makes it possible to detect a gallstone ileus. It is important also to define various intestinal structures accurately.