A union of two rare pathologies: small bowel diverticula perforation secondary to impacted gallstone ileus.

Abstract

An 84-year-old lady presented with 1 day history of sudden onset generalized abdominal pain, fevers, and peritonism. Computed tomography was suggestive of a mid-small bowel perforation associated with a distal ovoid soft tissue density structure without pneumobilia. An urgent laparotomy demonstrated two areas of jejunal diverticula necrosis and perforation associated with a 3 cm luminal mass in the proximal ileum, and proximal small bowel dilatation. A 100 cm small bowel resection incorporating the mass and perforated jejunal diverticula and primary stapled anastomosis were performed. Histopathology surprisingly demonstrated cholelithiasis consistent with a gallstone ileus and necrotic, perforated jejunal diverticulitis. The patient had no recurrent symptoms at 6 weeks follow-up. The authors report an uncommon and unexpected occurrence of small bowel diverticulitis perforation as a rare complication of gallstone ileus.