Choledochoduodenal Fistulas

In 2,012 ERCP studies reviewed in the period between 1976 and 1989, we observed 14 choledochoduodenal fistulas found in the upper portion of the papilla of Vater. Two fistulas occurred spontaneously due to necrosis of the duodenal wall caused by stones located in the distal common bile duct above the sphincter of the papilla. In these two cases the stones were removed endoscopically. The twelve remaining cases were iatrogenic, caused during surgical papillotomy which resulted in a false tract. All patients showed raised AP and gamma GT. Eight had acute cholangitis, 7 were jaundiced, there was one case each of acute pancreatitis and chronic recurrent pancreatitis. Nine patients had stones located in the distal common bile duct. In eight cases it was possible to cannulate the papillary opening and do a papillotomy thereby connecting the fistulous orifice with the opening of the papilla. The other patient was treated surgically. Two patients had papillary stenosis. One was successfully treated with papillotomy through the papillary opening. In the other, the fistulous orifice was joined with the papillary opening using a diathermy scalpel. This patient suffered a posterior duodenal wall perforation. One patient with acute pancreatitis and common bile duct stones distal to the fistula improved with papillotomy and stone removal. The patient with chronic recurrent pancreatitis without lithiasis refused any form of treatment.