Published online Jan 27, 2017. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v9.i1.25
Peer-review started: September 6, 2016
First decision: September 29, 2016
Revised: October 30, 2016
Accepted: December 7, 2016
Article in press: December 9, 2016
Published online: January 27, 2017
Processing time: 132 Days and 0.3 Hours
To investigate and summarise the current evidence surrounding management of Bouveret’s syndrome (BS).
A MEDLINE search was performed for the BS. The search was conducted independently by two clinicians (Yahya AL-Habbal and Matthew Ng) in April 2016. A case of BS is also described.
A total of 315 articles, published from 1967 to 2016, were found. For a clinically meaningful clinical review, articles published before 01/01/1990 and were excluded, leaving 235 unique articles to review. Twenty-seven articles were not available (neither by direct communication nor through inter-library transfer). These were also excluded. The final number of articles reviewed was 208. There were 161 case reports, 13 reviews, 23 images (radiological and clinical images), and 11 letters to editor. Female to male ratio was 1.82. Mean age was 74 years. Treatment modalities included laparotomy in the majority of cases, laparoscopic surgery, endoscopic surgery and shockwave lithotripsy.
There is limited evidence in the literature about the appropriate approach. We suggest an algorithm for management of BS.
Core tip: Bouveret’s syndrome is gastric outlet obstruction secondary to an impacted gallstone in the duodenum or stomach. There is limited evidence surrounding management of this rare syndrome. Here we systematically review the published cases and recommend a treatment algorithm to clinicians facing this syndrome in future.