Afferent loop obstruction presenting as obstructive jaundice.

The first case of obstructive jaundice secondary to a chronic afferent loop obstruction has been reported. The cause of the obstructed afferent loop was found to be a carcinoma of the gastric pouch occurring 25 years after surgery for peptic ulcer disease. The failure to develop any evidence of pancreatitis despite marked dilatation of the biliary tree and gall bladder suggests the existence of an independent functioning pancreatic sphincter, perhaps the sphincter of Boyden.