Gallstone ileus in Caroli's disease

This report describes a patient with a type II Caroli's disease who develop ed a gallstone ileus. Previous hepaticojejunostomy operations were thought to have facilitated the migration of stones into the bowel and consequent g allstone ileus. This complication, which was strongly suspected from the cl inical history, was diagnosed by ultrasound examination despite the absence of aberrantly located stones on plain abdominal x-ray. Ultrasound is usefu l in the diagnostic workup of patients with bowel obstruction to confirm ob struction itself, to assess its level, and possibly to identify the cause. (C) 2000 by Am. Cell. of Gastroenterology.