Hepatic abscesses as a complication of the sump syndrome: combined surgical and endoscopic therapy. Case report and review of the literature.

The "sump syndrome" is an unusual complication of side-to-side choledochoduodenostomy in which the portion of the common bile duct distal to the anastamosis acts as a sump and may collect bile, stones, food, and other debris. Partial or complete obstruction of the stoma and resultant bacterial proliferation may result and lead to recurrent cholangitis or pancreatitis. A single hepatic abscess as a complication of the sump syndrome has been reported only once. We have recently seen a patient presenting with multiple hepatic abscesses as a complication of the sump syndrome. This is the first report of endoscopic treatment of this syndrome associated with a hepatic abscess. The literature on the endoscopic approach to this problem will be reviewed.