Biliary ileus. Diagnosis and therapy

: Based on retrospective evaluation of therapeutic results of all patients operated at the Second Surgical Clinic of the Second Medical Faculty Charles University on account of biliary ileus during the last 10 years the authors submit their ideas on treatment of this relatively rare disease. Decisive for the patient is early, though frequently difficult assessment of the diagnosis and the speediest possible removal of the obstruction. Enterlithotomy with thorough revision of the gut above the obstruction and removal of the contents is a sufficiently effective procedure. Subsequent elective cholecystectomy is indicated only in patients with further symptoms of biliary disease and confirmed cholecystolithiasis.