No Stone Left Unturned: Using Choledocholithiasis to Open a Papillary Stenosis via a Choledochodudenal Fistula

Abstract

In a patient found to have cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis, a choledochoduodenal fistula was used to gain access to the bile duct. Due to severe stenosis and atrophy of the major papilla, cannulation was not possible. Stones were purposely impacted in the native ampulla to cause bulging and stretching of the stenosis. Once the stenosis was stretched, the bile and pancreatic duct were accessed via the native ampulla, allowing for stone removal.

Introduction

A choledochoduodenal fistula (CDF) is an abnormal connection between the common bile duct (CBD) and the duodenum. CDF may be incidentally discovered during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) and is associated with a past history of CBD stones, recurrent biliary tract infections, and less commonly associated with peptic ulcer disease, malignancy, and trauma.^1,2

Case Report

A 77-year-old man presented with 2 days of abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. Physical exam revealed mild tenderness to palpation in the lower abdomen. Labs showed a leukocytosis of 13.45 K/μL and creatinine of 1.5 mg/dL. Liver function tests and lipase were normal. Abdominal/pelvic computed tomography (CT) without contrast showed extensive cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis resulting in intra- and extrahepatic biliary ductal dilatation; the CBD measured 1.4 cm (Figure 1).

Figure 1.

Abdominal/pelvic CT showing cholelithiasis, choledocholithiasis, intra- and extrahepatic biliary ductal dilatation.

ERCP showed a CDF and associated severe stenosis and atrophy of the major papilla. Due to the stenosis, cannulation through the native ampulla was not possible, so the CDF was used to access the bile duct. The fistula was enlarged by making a cut with a sphincterotome. To avoid a peritoneal leak, a limited fistulotomy was performed, which hindered complete removal of the stones. Multiple stones were present, but not all were removed, and a stent was placed.

Following ERCP, the patient underwent an uncomplicated laparoscopic cholecystectomy. His pain and nausea resolved completely. The stent was removed during repeat ERCP at 2-month follow-up, and revealed large stones in the bile duct. The fistula was again noted in the mid-bile duct and across a duodenal fold, making it impossible to simply extend the prior fistulotomy to the native ampulla without perforation. Due to the severe stenosis of the native ampulla, the wire could not pass through the ampulla in an anterograde fashion. The stones could not be removed via the fistula. The stones naturally flowed distally and a balloon was placed above to sweep them down to the native ampulla (Figure 2). Once the stones were impacted, this caused the native ampulla to bulge and stretch the stenosis. This stretching allowed for both the bile duct and pancreatic duct to be accessed via the native ampulla (Figure 3). A traditional sphincterotomy was performed and the stones were removed (Figure 4). Two stents were placed in the CBD after stone removal. Six weeks later, a repeat ERCP revealed the previous fistula used to access the bile duct was completely healed and the 2 biliary stents were removed.

Figure 2.

ERCP showing bile duct and pancreatic duct access via the choledochoduodenal fistula.

Figure 3.

Native ampulla bulging and stretching the stenosis.

Figure 4.

Traditional sphincterotomy and removal of stones.

Discussion

A CDF is an abnormal connection between the CBD and the duodenum, and are classified as proximal or distal. CDF are associated with a past history of CBD stones, recurrent biliary tract infections, and are less commonly associated with peptic ulcer disease, malignancy, and trauma.^1,2 A proximal CDF may represent 4–20% of all biliaryenteric fistulas. A distal CDF connects to the duodenum in the distal 2 centimeters of the CBD, and its incidence, due to cholelithiasis or operative trauma, varies throughout the world.³ Accessing a CDF for therapeutic purposes has been described in the literature for palliative biliary drainage and to remove choledocholithiasis.^4,5

The migration of a CBD stone and impaction at the papilla may lead to complete biliary obstruction, cholangitis, or acute pancreatitis.⁶ These stones are typically removed via endoscopic papillotomy.⁷ If a papillotomy is difficult to perform due to impaction at the papilla, endoscopic choledochoduodenostomy may be performed to provide an artificial choledochoduodenal fistula for removal of the impacted stone.⁸ Our patient may have benefited from CBD exploration at the time of his cholecystectomy, had the complexity of his stone burden been known; however, CBD exploration may still carry up to a 10% risk of retained stones.^9,10 While CDF are often considered sequelae of disease pathology, they may be considered for access in therapeutic procedures.

Disclosures

Author contributions: S. West wrote the manuscript and is the article guarantor. MJ Shellenberger revised the manuscript.

Financial disclosure: None to report.

Informed consent was obtained for this case report.