Gastric Outlet Obstruction by a Hydrocholecyst. A Very Rare Variant of Bouveret Syndrome: A Case Report ()
1. Introduction
Gallstone disease is a common pathology in the general population with a high prevalence in western countries. Only between 0.3% - 0.5% of patients with cholelithiasis will present with gallstone ileus, and of this small proportion, only between 1% and 3%, will be complicated by the syndrome described in 1896 by Leon Bouveret [1] . Bouveret’s syndrome is a form of gastric outlet obstruction, secondary to the passage and impaction of a gallstone in the duodenum through a cholecystoduodenal fistula [2] . It is more frequent in women between 74 - 77 years of age and is clinically characterized by pain, bloating, incoercible vomiting and anorexia [1] .
2. Case Report
We present the case of an 82-year-old woman, with no relevant history, who consulted in the ER for a four-day episode of colic-like pain located in the upper quadrants of the abdomen, accompanied by nausea without vomiting and obstipation. The physical examination documented supraumbilical bloating, timpanism with decreased peristalsis, without any signs of peritoneal irritation. The laboratory tests results showed systemic inflammatory response as well as elevation of liver and pancreatic enzymes (Table 1).
Abdominal x-rays revealed gastromegaly with abundant waste material in the stomach. An abdominal CT scan with intravenous contrast was requested and showed signs of an apparent blockage of the gastric outlet tract with dilatation of the gallbladder and common bile duct (Figure 1).
A nasogastric tube was placed to empty the stomach, unsuccessfully, so a panendoscopy was requested to obtain gastric evacuation and explore for the cause of obstruction (Figure 2). The study documented peptic ulcers located in the major curvature of the stomach and the second part of the duodenum, but nothing explained the obstruction. A magnetic resonance cholangiography was subsequently requested to rule out a biliopancreatic tumor, reporting a 12 mm common bile duct, as well as dilatation of the stomach, gallbladder and duodenum, but without apparent cause (Figure 3).
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Table 1. Laboratory test results of the patient.
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Figure 1. Contrasted computed tomography showing gallbladder dilatation and gastromegaly.
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Figure 2. Endoscopic view of the interior of the duodenum demonstrating the absence of intrinsic causes for gastric outlet obstruction.
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Figure 3. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrating extrinsic compression of duodenum by a dilated gallbladder. Common bile duct without alterations.
In subsequent laboratory tests, pancreatic enzymes were normal and all tumor markers were negative. Finally, an abdominal ultrasound was performed in which the gallbladder measured 11.5 × 5 × 6 mm, with a thick wall, abundant internal biliary sludge and a common bile duct of 15 mm in diameter. A hydrocholecyst was diagnosed, so the patient underwent a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (Figure 4).
The gallbladder was punctured at the beginning of the procedure, obtaining 200 ml of clear bile (Figure 5). By the end of the procedure, the distention of the upper abdomen had decreased considerably. During the next few days, the patient showed clear signs of improvement with pain remission, audible bowel sounds, tolerance to oral food intake and presence of evacuations, so it was decided to discharge.
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Figure 4. Ultrasound with gallbladder measurements, compatible with a hydrocholecyst.
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Figure 5. Enlarged gallbladder during surgery, showing signs of hydrocholecyst compressing the duodenum.
3. Discussion
Currently the most common cause of gastric outlet obstruction is pancreatic carcinoma, before 1970 until the advent of the H2 blockers, the most common cause was peptic ulcer disease [3] . Bouveret Syndrome is a very rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction and is usually associated with the presence of a giant gallstone (>2 cm) and a cholecystoduodenal fistula. In essence, it is the lithiasic pathology of the gallbladder that obstructs the outlet tract, causing gastromegaly and the typical symptoms of the syndrome: abdominal pain, bloating, vomit and early satiety [4] . Our case was not associated with fistulas or giant gallstones, but produced gastromegaly and the usual signs of Bouveret Syndrome, because of a cholelithiasic state, specifically, that caused the extrinsic compression from a hydrocholecyst produced in the second part of the duodenum. The most common cause for the appearance of a hydrocholecyst is mechanical obstruction of
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Table 2. The six cases of the variant described of Bouveret Syndrome.
cystic duct by a gallstone, which prevents the gallbladder from filling retrogradely. The bile salts are absorbed and the mucus-producing glands fill the gallbladder with its secretion. The gallbladder can store up to 1.5 L of fluid and its weight can block the duodenum [5] .
It is important to note that, when faced with an obstruction of the gastroduodenal outlet tract, we must rule out the presence of a biliopancreatic tumor (cancer of the head of the pancreas, mainly). That explains a lot about the approach followed in this particular case of an 82-year-old woman. Prior to the use of H2 blockers, peptic stenosis was the most common cause of this blockage.
4. Conclusions
Bouveret syndrome is a rare cause of gastric outlet tract obstruction, it is usually caused by a large gallstone that reaches the digestive tract through a cholecystoduodenal fistula. The symptoms are usually non-specific. The diagnosis and management should be multidisciplinary including surgery, radiology and endoscopy. This case was not associated with fistulas or gallstones, but by a hydrocholecyst that caused extrinsic compression in the second part of the duodenum.
To our knowledge, this is the sixth case reported in the world literature (Table 2) about an extremely rare variant, of an extremely rare syndrome.