Gallstone ileus is a mechanical intestinal obstruction due to gallstone impaction within the gastrointestinal tract. Less than 1% of cases of intestinal obstruction are derived from this etiology. The symptoms and signs of gallstone ileus are mostly nonspecific. This entity has been observed with a higher frequency among the elderly, the majority of which have concomitant medical illness. Cardiovascular, pulmonary, and metabolic diseases should be considered as they may affect the prognosis. Surgical relief of gastrointestinal obstruction remains the mainstay of operative treatment. The current surgical procedures are: (1) simple enterolithotomy; (2) enterolithotomy, cholecystectomy and fistula closure (one-stage procedure); and (3) enterolithotomy with cholecystectomy performed later (two-stage procedure). Bowel resection is necessary in certain cases after enterolithotomy is performed. Large prospective laparoscopic and endoscopic trials are expected.

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Bezoars are conglomerations of undigested foreign material retained in the gastrointestinal tract. Trichobezoar is a compact conglomeration of swallowed hair and constitutes less than 6% of all bezoars. Their most frequent location is in the stomach but they may extend through the pylorus into the small bowel. This condition is known as Rapunzel syndrome. Many patients may remain asymptomatic or present a mild form of the disease characterized by abdominal pain, early satiety, nausea, and vomiting. Complications may manifest as gastric outlet obstruction or bleeding, and intestinal obstruction. A 15-year-old female patient presented with clinical findings of intestinal obstruction. The patient suffered from depressive and anxiety disorders and trichotillomania, although trichophagy could not be assured. Alopecia circumscripta and irregular hair length on the scalp were identified. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed two images highly suggestive of trichobezoars, one in the stomach and the second one causing obstruction at the ileocecal valve. At laparotomy, both a mobile gastric trichobezoar with a tail extending to the duodenum and a trichobezoar causing obstruction at the ileocecal valve were removed. The postoperative course was uneventful. The passage of a detached trichobezoar fragment in a patient with Rapunzel syndrome may cause intestinal obstruction. CT is the preferred image modality for the evaluation of suspected trichobezoars in order to characterize their size and locations, the presence and level of obstruction, and complications such as ischemia or perforation. A case of small-bowel obstruction secondary to ileal trichobezoar in a patient with Rapunzel syndrome is herein reported.

This study validates the concept of preserving the lacrimal and nasal mucosa through an endoscopic approach to treat NLDO. Early and controlled lining of the fistula with mucosal flaps appears to prevent closure of the ostium and leads to a high success rate comparable with that of external dacryocystorhinostomy. This can be accomplished successfully with a manual osteotomy thus avoiding the use of power drills and burrs.

Zenker's diverticulum (ZD), also known as cricopharyngeal, pharyngoesophageal or hypopharyngeal diverticulum, is a rare condition characterized by an acquired outpouching of the mucosal and submucosal layers originating from the pharyngoesophageal junction. This false and pulsion diverticulum occurs dorsally at the pharyngoesophageal wall between the inferior pharyngeal constrictor and the cricopharyngeus muscle. The pathophysiology of ZD involves altered compliance of the cricopharyngeus muscle and raised intrabolus pressure. Decreased compliance of the upper esophageal sphincter and failure to open completely for effective bolus clearance both lead to an increase in the hypopharyngeal pressure gradient. Different open surgical techniques and transoral endoscopic approaches have been described for the management of ZD, although there is no consensus about the best option. We report the case of a 61-year-old patient with a 7-year history of dysphagia and odynophagia for solid food, which after 2 months progressed to dysphagia for liquids and after 4 months to regurgitation 2-6 h after meals. The patient experienced a 12-kg weight loss. Diagnosis was established by esophagogram, which showed a diverticulum through the posterior pharyngeal wall, suggestive of a ZD. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed a pouch with erythematous mucosa. Under general anesthesia, diverticulectomy and myotomy were performed. After an uneventful recovery and adequate oral intake, the patient remains free of symptoms at 4 months of follow-up.