Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
 Open access journal indexed with Index Medicus & ISI's SCI  
Users online: 11224  
Home | Subscribe | Feedback | Login 
About Latest Articles Back-Issues Articlesmenu-bullet Search Instructions Online Submission Subscribe Etcetera Contact
 
  NAVIGATE Here 
  Search
 
 :: Next article
 :: Previous article 
 :: Table of Contents
  
 RESOURCE Links
 ::  Similar in PUBMED
 ::  Search Pubmed for
 ::  Search in Google Scholar for
 ::Related articles
 ::  Article in PDF (11 KB)
 ::  Citation Manager
 ::  Access Statistics
 ::  Reader Comments
 ::  Email Alert *
 ::  Add to My List *
* Registration required (free) 


  IN THIS Article
 ::  Abstract
 ::  Introduction
 ::  Case report
 ::  Discussion
 ::  References

 Article Access Statistics
    Viewed8343    
    Printed249    
    Emailed3    
    PDF Downloaded142    
    Comments [Add]    
    Cited by others 5    

Recommend this journal


   
CASE REPORT
Year : 1990  |  Volume : 36  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 167-8

Choledochoduodenal fistula complicating duodenal ulcer disease (a report of 3 cases).





  ::  Abstract

Choledochoduodenal fistula complicating duodenal ulcer disease is a rare occurrence. The present paper describes 3 such cases which were incidentally picked up on upper gastro-intestinal (GI) radiographic study and endoscopy done for ulcer like symptoms. The relevant literature is reviewed.

How to cite this article:
Shah P, Ramakantan R. Choledochoduodenal fistula complicating duodenal ulcer disease (a report of 3 cases). J Postgrad Med 1990;36:167


How to cite this URL:
Shah P, Ramakantan R. Choledochoduodenal fistula complicating duodenal ulcer disease (a report of 3 cases). J Postgrad Med [serial online] 1990 [cited 2023 Jun 10];36:167. Available from: https://www.jpgmonline.com/text.asp?1990/36/3/167/839




  ::   Introduction Top

Only 5% of all choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF) are the consequence of complicated duodenal ulcer disease[1]. They often present without specific clinical symptoms and may be incidentally picked up on upper GI radiographic study or endoscopy. We had 3 such cases diagnosed in our hospital and they are being reported here.

  ::   Case report Top

Case 1:
A 55-year-old male presented with epigastric burning pain relieved with meals and of duration 5 years.; There was no history of right upper quadrant pain or of fever.
An upper GI endoscopy revealed a deformed duodenal cap. No fistulous communication was seen. However, on an upper G1 examination performed 4 days later (see [Figure - 1]) in addition to the scarred cap, free filling of the retro-and supra-duodenal portions of the common bile duct (CBD) and the intrallepatic biliary radicals was seen. Free emptying of barium from the biliary tract was seen on the follow-up film.
The patient was advised to continue conservative treatment for his ulcer disease.
Case 2:
A 40-year-old male patient presented with a 2 year history of upper abdominal pain associated with vomiting following meals. Upper GI endoscopy showed a narrowing of the pylorus; the duodenal cap could not be entered. Barium study of the upper GI tract (see [Figure - 2]) showed no significant gastric outlet obstruction, a scarred duodenal cap and opacification of the CBD through a long fistulous tract leading from the duodenal cap. No specific change in the conservative treatment was deemed necessary, as the patient had no specific symptoms related to the fistula.
Case 3:
A 14-year-old boy came with a history of colicky upper abdominal pain with no specific relieving or aggravating factors. A small bowel series with films of the duodenum without abdominal compression did not show any abnormality. However, at tile upper GI endoscopy, the duodenal cap was seen to be scared and a large ulcer crater leading to a tract could be seen. This was cannulated and injection of contrast revealed (see [Figure - 3]) opacification of the biliary tract. This patient too was managed conservatively for duodenal ulcer disease.

  ::   Discussion Top

CDF, produced as a consequence of chronic ulcer disease of the duodenal cap constitutes only 5% of the cases producing biliary enteric fistulas[1]. Until 1986 only 8 cases have been reported in Indian literature[2],[4],[5]. The reason for the rarity of this condition becomes apparent when one realises that a duodenal ulcer most typically occurs about 4 cm distal to the pylorus whereas the CBD is about 7 cm distal to the pylorus[3]. For most part, these fistulas are incidental findings at upper GI studies and seldom produce any specific symptoms; the presence of symptoms being related to the obstruction for emptying of the biliary tract into the duodenum[3].
None of our 3 patients had symptoms related to the fistula itself.
The diagnosis of CDF is invariably apparent on upper GI examination with barium. The findings become conclusive especially if the distal part of the CBD is not seen at this time. In 2 of our 3 patients, radiography demonstrated a fistula on the GI series. However, in the 3rd patient (case 3), the barium study did not show the fistula, apparently be cause no compression films were obtained. In this patient, contrast injection into the fistula following endoscopic cannulation elegantly demonstrated the pathology. To our knowledge, this is the first such demonstration of a CDF produced by ulcer disease. In patients with symptoms related to the fistula such as repeated attacks of cholangitis antrectomy with vagotomy is recommended[3]. In none of our patients this was indicated and hence no surgery was offered.
In conclusion, biliary enteric fistulas produced by ulcer disease are a rare occurrence - often noted incidentally at upper GI examinations. Radiologic and endoscopic studies supplement each other in their diagnosis. The diagnosis of such fistulas often does not alter further management unless the complication of cholangitis due to obstruction is present, in which case, surgical intervention[1] is indicated.

  ::   References Top

1. Berk RN, Ferrucci JT, Leopold GR. Radiology of gallbladder and bile ducts. Philadelphia: WB Saunders and Co; 1983, pp 22-29.  Back to cited text no. 1    
2.Garg K, Malik N, Katariya RN. Choledochoduodenal fistula: an unusual complication of duodenal ulcer disease. Ind J Gastroenterol 1986; 5:51-52.  Back to cited text no. 2    
3.Michowitz M, Farago C, Lazarovici I, Solowicjczyk M. Choledochoduodenal fistula: a rare complication of duodenal ulcer. Amer J Gastroenterol 1984; 79:416-420.  Back to cited text no. 3    
4.Singh V, Sarker SK. Choledochoduodenal fistula due to duodenal ulceration. (A case report and review of literature). Ind J Surg 1977; 39:542-545.  Back to cited text no. 4    
5.Vira Reddy HT, Gnanaprakasam D, Jacob TP. Spontaneous internal biliary fistula. Ind J Surg 1973; 35:214-219.   Back to cited text no. 5    

Top
Print this article  Email this article
Previous article Next article
Online since 12th February '04
© 2004 - Journal of Postgraduate Medicine
Official Publication of the Staff Society of the Seth GS Medical College and KEM Hospital, Mumbai, India
Published by Wolters Kluwer - Medknow