ERCP experience in patients with choledochoduodenostomy: diagnostic findings and therapeutic management

Background Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), besides reducing the need for surgery in a wide spectrum of biliary disease, is increasingly be used for the treatment of biliary complications of surgery. In this paper, we review our experience with postoperative ERCPs required after biliary surgery with a special focus on side-to-side choledochoduodenostomy (CD). Methods The records of 70 patients with a history of CD who underwent ERCP from May 2000 to February 2006 were analyzed. Results There were 70 patients, 32 (45.7%) women and 38 (35.6%) men, with a mean age of 56 (range, 21–80) years. Indications for ERCP were cholangitis in 46 (65.7%), abnormal liver function tests with abdominal pain and abnormal USG in 22 (31.4%), and abnormal liver function tests and abnormal USG in 2 (2.9%). Overall 133 ERCP were performed. Anastomotic stenosis was found in 14 (20%), benign biliary stricture above the anastomosis in 13 (18.6%), sump syndrome in 11 (15.7%), common bile duct stone in 8 (11.4%), malignancy in 4 (5.7%), hepatolithiasis in 1 (1.4%), and secondary sclerosing cholangitis in 1 (1.4%). ERCP was normal in 18 (25.8%). Patients were managed by stone extraction in 8 (11%), stent insertion in 22 (36%), balloon dilatation in 15 (21%), nasobiliary drainage in 11 (16%), and bougie dilatation in 2 (3%) patients. Conclusions We have reported one of the largest groups of patients with CD in the literature and showed that ERCP is a very important diagnostic and therapeutic tool for the management of biliary problems after CD.