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Case Report
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastrointest Surg. Dec 27, 2025; 17(12): 113532
Published online Dec 27, 2025. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v17.i12.113532
Bouveret syndrome in a young patient: A case report and review of literature
Yu-Chen Hu, Xu-Yi Chen, Meng-Ke Cao, Zhen Fan
Yu-Chen Hu, Xu-Yi Chen, Meng-Ke Cao, The Fourth School of Clinical Medicine, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou First People’s Hospital, Hangzhou 310000, Zhejiang Province, China
Zhen Fan, Department of Gastroenterology, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Westlake University Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang Province, China
Author contributions: Hu YC, Chen XY and Cao MK wrote the original draft; Fan Z performed review and editing. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript.
Supported by Medical and Health Technology Project of Hangzhou, No. ZD20240015.
Informed consent statement: Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The authors declare that there are no competing interests.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Zhen Fan, MD, PhD, Chief Physician, Professor, Hangzhou First People's Hospital, Department of Gastroenterology, Westlake University Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, No. 261 Huansha Road, Shangcheng District, Hangzhou 310006, Zhejiang Province, China. fanzhenmd@163.com
Received: August 27, 2025
Revised: October 4, 2025
Accepted: November 12, 2025
Published online: December 27, 2025
Processing time: 119 Days and 16.9 Hours
Abstract
BACKGROUND

Bouveret syndrome is a rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction resulting from the passage of a gallstone into the duodenum or stomach through a biliary-enteric fistula. It is a complication of chronic cholelithiasis and accounts for only 1%-3% of all gallstone-related intestinal obstructions.

CASE SUMMARY

A 49-year-old male presented with nausea, vomiting, and upper abdominal pain. Imaging revealed a large gastric stone and a cholecystoduodenal fistula, confirming Bouveret syndrome. An initial endoscopic attempt to remove the stone was unsuccessful, necessitating surgical intervention. The patient subsequently underwent successful stone extraction and fistula repair, followed by an uneventful postoperative recovery. While Bouveret syndrome typically affects elderly individuals (average age: 74 years), this case in a younger patient provides valuable insights into its management in this demographic.

CONCLUSION

Bouveret syndrome is a serious but uncommon condition often presenting with nonspecific symptoms, leading to potential diagnostic delays. Timely diagnosis, usually confirmed by imaging, is critical for optimal outcomes. Although endoscopy is often the first-line therapy, surgery remains essential for cases with failed endoscopic intervention or complex anatomical involvement. This case highlights the importance of recognizing the syndrome’s clinical features in younger patients and enhancing the understanding of its diagnosis and management strategies.

Keywords: Bouveret syndrome; Gallbladder-duodenum fistula; Gallstone-related intestinal obstruction; Intestinal obstruction; Case report

Core Tip: This case highlights Bouveret syndrome-a rare cause of gastric outlet obstruction-occurring in an unusually young patient (age: 49 years). This condition was successfully managed with surgical intervention following endoscopic removal. It highlights the critical role of early imaging in prompt diagnosis and reinforces that surgery remains the definitive treatment for complex or refractory cases, providing insights into management strategies for atypical patient populations.