Gallstone ileus and bowel perforation after endoscopic sphincterotomy.

Gallstone ileus as a complication of endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) is exceptional, and this is only the second reported case. The present case is unique in that there was no previous instrumentation to the papilla, the bowel was obstructed and perforated, and the patient survived. This case again points out the danger of performing ES for large common bile duct stones. When a large stone is not extracted after ES, close monitoring is mandatory until unequivocal stone passage through the intestine is proven. In both cases reported so far, the lack of adequate monitoring after failure of stone extraction by ES was critical to the severity of gallstone ileus.