Turkish Journal of
GERIATRICS

¹Ankara Ãœniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Genel Cerrahi Anabilim Dalı, ANKARA Described first by Bartholin in 1654, gallstone ileus is a rare benign cause of mechanical intestinal obstruction in the elderly with a high morbidity and mortality rate. The patients are at an advanced age and have many other concomitant diseases that may increase the operative risk. Although benign cases are extremely rare in this age group, since gallstone ileus accounts for up to 25% of all benign intestinal obstructions cases in elderly, surgeons must keep this rare condition and its treatment in mind. Although most of the patients need emergency surgery for treatment, there is no consensus on the most beneficial surgical approach. Herein we report two cases of gallstone ileus treated by enterolithotomy alone, which is usually sufficient for successful treatment. Keywords : Aged; Ileus/etiology; Ileus/gallstone