Gallstone ileus. Review of the literature and presentation of thirty-four new cases.

An analysis of thirty-four patients with gallstone ileus is integrated with a review of the literature on the subject. Surgical treatment was carried out in thirty-two patients, with an overall operative mortality of 19 per cent. Three patients were treated by one stage enterolithotomy, fistula repair, and cholecystectomy without operative mortality, emphasizing the merit of one stage treatment in selected, well prepared patients. A 6 per cent incidence of carcinoma of the gallbladder was noted in this series of patients.