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Journal of Medical Cases

Case Report

Volume 3, Number 4, August 2012, pages 243-246

Choledochoduodenal Fistula Associated With Recurrent Peptic Ulcer

Peptic ulcer is common condition in Japan because of high prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection. However, severe complications such as entero-biliary fistula are relatively rare in recent years due to development of strong acid suppressants. Here we report on a case with recurrent duodenal ulcer accompanied by choledochobiliary fistula and duodenal stricture which require surgical operation.

A 33-year-old male visited to Teikyo University Hospital (Tokyo, Japan) because of recurrent vomiting and marked weight loss (20 kg/year). He had a 15-year history of recurrent duodenal ulcer (Fig.1). Last year, he was recommended by a physician to have eradication therapy against Helicobacter pylori, but, he did not. On admission, the laboratory data showed acute renal dysfunction due to dehydration and hypokalemia (Table 1). Abdominal computed tomography revealed dilatation of the stomach and the air in the intrahepatic biliary duct (Fig. 2). Esophagogastroduodenoscopy showed marked deformity with severe stricture of the duodenal bulb (Fig. 3). Although the presence of hole could not be confirmed directly, gastroduodenography showed contrast medium entered into the biliary tract, indicating duodeno-biliary fistula (Fig. 4). He could not take meal enough due to duodenal stricture, so partial gastroduodenectomy was performed. After the operation, he had been able to eat meals and was discharged without serious complication.

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Figure 1. Past endoscopic findings; 19 years old (left) and 32 years old (right).

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Table 1. Laboratory Data

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Figure 2. Abdominal computed tomography. Peumobilia in the intrahepatic bile duct (left) and dilatation of the stomach (right) was found.

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Figure 3. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Duodenal ulcer and stricture was seen.

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Figure 4. Upper gastoduodenography. This revealed the existence of choledochoduodenal fistula.

Choledochoduodenal fistula is well-known but a relatively rare complication of duodenal ulcer in recent years, because the development of antiacid drugs makes us control the disease easier than before. The most major cause for duodeno-biliary fistula is inflammation of the bile duct due to gallstones, and the minors include duodenal ulcer, pancreatic neoplasm, and inflammation of neighbor organs [1-2]. Yamashita et al. reported that 33 of 1929 cases (1.9%) with biliary diseases showed duodeno-biliary fistula [3]. On the other hand, duodenal ulcer causes fistula to the other organs such as the biliary tract, pancreas, ureter, portal vein, aorta, pleura and skin [3-8]. Of these, biliary fistula seems more often than others [9]. Stricture is also uncommon condition of duodenal ulcer. In the present case, both the complications occurred as a result of recurrence of the disease. Additionally, the stricture of the duodenum got him unable to take food and water, developing weight loss and acute renal dysfunction due to dehydration.

Possible treatments of both complications include surgical therapy, endoscopy, and conservative treatment [10]. Endoscopic therapy such as endoscopic closure and dilatation, may be an alternative method for surgery. In our case, however, both fistula and stricture coexisted, and endoscopic closure was not available because the location of the fistula could not be confirmed precisely. Additionally, since the stricture was very severe, we could not try endoscopic dilatation. Then we did not choose endoscopic or conservative treatment, but did surgical operation.

Here we reported on a rare case of duodenal ulcer accompanied by duodeno-biliary fistula and duodenal stricture. Since duodenal ulcer is common condition, we need to remind those complications and treatment against them.

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Journal of Medical Cases is published by Elmer Press Inc.