Acute intestinal obstruction due to gallstone ileus.

Objective: To perform a systematic review of the history, available image exams and clinical approach to the diagnosis and treatment of gallstone ileus.

Method: Retrospective study in a university hospital including all cases of SBO treated over a period of 23 years. According to the surgical treatment the patients were divided into two groups: (1) enterolithotomy with cholecystectomy performed later (two-stage surgery); and (2) enterolithotomy, cholecystectomy and fistula closure (one-stage surgery).