Intermittent gastric outlet obstruction due to a gallstone migrated through a cholecysto-gastric fistula: A new variant of “Bouveret’s syndrome”

Bouveret's syndrome: An old diagnosis. A modern multimodality approach (endoscopic and robotic surgical) of gastric outlet obstruction: Report of two cases

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE

Bouveret's syndrome is an uncommon condition characterized by the impaction of a gallstone in the pylorus or duodenum via a cholecysto-enteric fistula causing gastric outlet obstruction. We report two unusual cases of Bouveret's syndrome causing gastric outlet obstruction in two elderly patients.

CASE PRESENTATION

Two elderly female patients presented to the surgical assessment unit with features of gastric outlet obstruction. In both cases, an urgent computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen showed pneumobilia, gastric distension, and gallstones impaction at the duodenal bulb. In Patient 1, endoscopic removal of the impacted gallstones was done successfully. She was discharged three days following an uneventful recovery. In Patient 2, an endoscopic removal of a single large gallstone was attempted, which was unsuccessful. She underwent robotic gastrotomy with extraction of the large gallstone with primary repair. She was discharged on 8th postoperative day.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

Treatment options for Bouveret's syndrome include endoscopic management and surgery. The selection of treatment options depends upon factors like the degree of obstruction, the impaction site, number, type or size of gallstones, patient co-morbidities and clinical parameters at presentation, as well as expertise available, both endoscopic and surgical.

CONCLUSIONS

Bouveret's syndrome is one of the rare complications of gallstone. Endoscopic management can be effective at removing the impacted gallstones, which is particularly helpful for those elderly patients who have multiple medical co-morbidities, as in our first patient. Surgical management like minimal invasive surgery (robotic) can be beneficial in failed endoscopic attempt of removal of stone like in the second patient.

Síndrome de Bouveret como variante de íleo biliar

Introducción. El síndrome de Bouveret es una variante del íleo biliar, de rara presentación dentro de las causas de obstrucción intestinal, generada por la impactación de un lito biliar a nivel del duodeno, secundario a la formación de una fístula bilioentérica. Es más común en mujeres en la octava década de la vida, con múltiples comorbilidades. y presenta síntomas inespecíficos, documentándose la triada de Rigler hasta en el 80 % de las tomografías de abdomen. La cirugía sigue siendo el tratamiento de elección. Caso clínico. Presentamos el caso de una paciente de 76 años, con múltiples antecedentes y cuadros previos de cólico biliar, que consultó por dolor abdominal y signos de hemorragia de vías digestivas altas y se documentó un síndrome de Bouveret. Fue tratada en la misma hospitalización mediante extracción quirúrgica del cálculo con posterior resolución de su sintomatología. Conclusión. A pesar de que el síndrome de Bouveret es una entidad de infrecuente presentación, los cirujanos generales deben estar familiarizados con esta patología, en el contexto del paciente que consulta con un cuadro de obstrucción intestinal, conociendo el valor de la tomografía de abdomen y la endoscopia de vías digestivas altas, teniendo en cuenta la edad y las condiciones del paciente para definir el manejo quirúrgico más adecuado.

Novel Iatrogenic Cause of Cholecystogastric Fistula

Cholecystogastric fistula (CGF) is a rare, abnormal communication between the gallbladder and the stomach that can be identified on abdominal computed tomography (CT) and confirmed via endoscopy. CGFs are not usually problematic. However, they can cause fatal complications. We present a case of an adult patient with a history of percutaneous cholecystostomy (PC) presenting with non-specific gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms and found to have an iatrogenic CGF. The fistula is believed to be secondary to the PC tube. CGF from PC has not been described in the literature before.

Bouveret Syndrome: A Systematic Review of Endoscopic Therapy and a Novel Predictive Tool to Aid in Management

BACKGROUND AND GOALS

Bouveret syndrome is characterized by gastroduodenal obstruction caused by an impacted gallstone. Current literature recommends endoscopic therapy as the first line of intervention despite significantly lower success rates compared with surgery. The lack of treatment efficacy studies and the paucity of clinical guidelines contribute to current practices being arbitrary. The aim of this systematic review was to identify factors that predict outcomes of endoscopic therapy. Subsequently, a predictive tool was devised to predict the success of endoscopic therapy and recommendations were proposed to improve current management strategies of impacted gallstones in the upper gastrointestinal tract.

METHODS

A systematic search of PubMed, Medline, Cochrane, and Scopus was performed for articles that contained the terms "Bouveret syndrome," "Bouveret's syndrome," "gallstone" AND "gastric obstruction" and "gallstone" AND "duodenal obstruction" that were published between January 1, 1950 to April 15, 2018. Articles were reviewed by 3 reviewers and raw data collated. χ and Kolmogorov-Smirnov tests were used to test associations between predictors and endoscopic outcomes. A logistic regression model was then used to create a predictive tool which was cross validated.

RESULTS

Failure of endoscopic therapy is associated with increasing gallstone length (P<0.0001) and impaction in the distal duodenum (P<0.05). Using multiple endoscopic modalities is associated with better success rates (P<0.05). The novel predictive tool predicted success of endoscopic therapy with an area under the receiver operating characteristic score of 0.86 (95% confidence interval: 0.79-0.94).

CONCLUSION

In Bouveret syndrome, a selective approach to endoscopic therapy can expedite definitive treatment and improve current management strategies.

Bouveret's syndrome as a rare complication of cholelithiasis: Disputes in current management and report of two cases

INTRODUCTION

Bouveret's syndrome is a rare complication of cholelithiasis that determines an unusual type of gallstone ileus, secondary to an acquired fistula between the gallbladder and either the duodenum or stomach with impaction of a large gallbladder stone. Preoperative diagnosis is difficult because of its rarity and the absence of typical symptoms. Adequate treatment consists of endoscopic or surgical removal of obstructive stone.

PRESENTATION OF CASES

Two old females patients were admitted to the Emergency Department with a history of abdominal pain associated with bilious vomiting. Physical examination revealed abdominal distension with tympanic percussion of the upper quadrants, abdominal pain on deep palpation of all quadrants and in the first patient positive Murphy's sign. Preoperative diagnosis of gallstone impacted in the duodenum was obtained by abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan in the first patient and by esophagogastroduodenoscopy in the second one. Both patients underwent surgery with extraction of the gallstone from the stomach. Postoperative course of two patients was uneventful and they were discharged home.

DISCUSSION

Bouveret's syndrome usually presents with signs and symptoms of gastric outlet obstruction. Preoperative radiological investigations not always are useful for its diagnosis. Appropriate treatment, endoscopic or surgical, is debated and must be tailored to each patient considering medical condition, age and comorbidities.

CONCLUSION

Bouveret's syndrome is a very rare complication of cholelithiasis, difficult to diagnose and suspect, because of lack of pathognomonic symptoms. Nowaday there are no guidelines for the correct management of this pathology. Endoscopic or surgical removal of obstructive stone represents the correct treatment.

Two Anomalies in One: A Rare Case of an Intrahepatic Gallbladder with a Cholecystogastric Fistula

The gallbladder can be situated in a variety of anomalous positions. An intrahepatic gallbladder – the second most common ectopic location of the gallbladder – is one that is completely embedded within the liver parenchyma. Described in the literature as early as 1935, intrahepatic gallbladders predominantly result from a developmental anomaly but in some instances have been reported to be secondary to chronic inflammation. The significance of an intrahepatic gallbladder lies in the fact that 60% of the cases are associated with gallstones and may present a challenge for the general surgeon during cholecystectomy and other biliary operations in addition to causing misdiagnosis on imaging. Intrahepatic gallbladders are unusual, but the incidence of an intrahepatic gallbladder with a cholecystogastric fistula is rare. Cholecystogastric fistulas commonly are a complication of long-term cholelithiasis or chronic cholecystitis with subsequent gallstone ileus. Herein, we present the case of an 80-year-old man who presented with 2 months of progressive weakness, fatigue, decreased appetite, and intermittent right-sided abdominal pain, and was found to have a markedly distended and irregular intrahepatic gallbladder measuring 12.2 × 11.5 × 13.4 cm on CT, as well as a cholecystogastric fistula on esophagogastroduodenoscopy. During esophagogastroduodenoscopy, the gallbladder was entered directly via the fistulous tract. The patient was on i.v. antibiotics with tube feeds via a nasojejunal tube initially, followed by p.o. which he tolerated. He was eventually discharged with referral for surgical evaluation. Given the potential for cholelithiasis and fistulation, physicians should have a high index of suspicion and recommend timely endoscopic and/or surgical management to avoid future complications.

Computed tomography demonstration of cholecystogastric fistula

Cholecystogastric fistula is a rare complication of chronic cholecystitis or long-standing cholelithiasis. It results from the gradual erosion of the approximated, chronically inflamed wall of the gall bladder and stomach with fistulous tract formation. The present case describes the direct visualization of a cholecystogastric fistula by computed tomography in a patient without prior biliary system complaints.

Gallstone ileus obstructing within an incarcerated lumbar hernia: an unusual presentation of a rare diagnosis

We describe an unusual case of a 74-year-old woman who presented with signs and symptoms of small-bowel obstruction and a clinically appreciable, irreducible, left-sided lumbar hernia associated with previous iliac crest bone graft harvesting. Palpation of the hernia demonstrated a small, firm mass within the loops of herniated bowel. CT scanning recognised an intraluminal gallstone at the transition point, establishing the diagnosis of gallstone ileus within an incarcerated lumbar hernia. The proposed explanatory mechanism is that of a gallstone migrating into an easily reducible hernia containing small bowel causing obstruction at the hernia neck by a ball-valve mechanism, resulting in proximal bowel dilation and thus hernia incarceration; it remains unclear when the stone entered the hernia, and whether it enlarged in situ or prior to entering the enteral tract. This is only the second reported instance in the literature of an intraluminal gallstone causing hernia incarceration.

Cholecystogastric fistula: a brief report and review of the literature

Cholecystogastric fistula is a rare, life-threatening complication of cholelithiasis that presents a difficult challenge to the surgeon when it occurs in elderly and co-morbid patients. Following a case of a 68-year-old female who presented with a short history of epigastric pain and vomiting, and in whom a cholecystogastric fistula was identified on abdominal computed tomography and confirmed on upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, we performed a systematic review of the literature on the management of cholecystogastric fistula. Our patient underwent laparotomy without excision of the fistula nor cholecystectomy and had an uncomplicated post-operative course. Surgical management using an open approach remains the mainstay of treatment of cholecystogastric fistula although laparoscopic techniques are used with increasing success. Surgical closure of the fistula is not always necessary. Improved surgical techniques including the use of laparoscopic surgery have led to improved outcomes in the management of cholecystogastric fistula.

Bouveret's syndrome: a case report and a review of the literature

Bouveret's syndrome is a gastric outlet obstruction caused by an impacted gallstone that passes through a cholecysto-gastric or cholecysto-duodenal fistula. An elderly woman visited a local clinic with nausea and abdominal pain. Abdominal computed tomography revealed a stone that was impacted in the duodenal lumen and a fistula between the gallbladder and duodenum. Malignancy could not be excluded due to the mass in the cystic duct showing enhancement and the presence of enlarged lymph nodes on computed tomography, and increased fludeoxyglucose uptake in the cystic duct on positron emission tomography. The patient underwent simultaneous cholecystectomy, segmental duodenectomy and gastro-jejunostomy. Pathological examination exhibited chronic inflammation and no primary cancer of the gallbladder and fistula.

Carcinoma Gall Bladder with Bouveret's Syndrome: A Rare Cause of Gastric Outlet Obstruction

We describe a case of bouveret's syndrome associated with carcinoma gall bladder. This is probably the second reported case of such an association. Computed tomography detected the calculus in the duodenum but endoscopy could not retrieve it. Open gastrojejunostomy and stone retrieval was done.

Another new variant of Bouveret’s syndrome

Although Bouveret’s syndrome, i.e. gastric outlet obstruction by a large gallstone impacted in the proximal duodenum secondary to a cholecystoduodenal fistula, is rare, its pathogenesis and clinical features are well characterized. However, existence of variant forms of the syndrome are not well known, and as far as we know, only two cases of variant Bouveret’s syndrome have been described in the English-language literature. We present a case of another new variant of Bouveret’s syndrome in a 54-year-old Korean woman.