Bronchobiliary fistula. A rare complication of chronic pancreatitis.

CONCLUSIONS

Bronchobiliary fistula is an in frequent manifestation of common bile duct obstruction. The slowly progressive narrowing of the common duct by the fibrosis of chronic pancreatitis is an even more rare mechanism of such fistula formation with only two cases having been reported previously. A third case of bronchobiliary fistula caused by chronic pancreatitis is presented and its successful management is discussed.

BACKGROUND

A 54-yr-old male with known chronic pancreatitis presented with a cough productive of copious amounts of bile and with pulmonary infiltrates.

METHODS

Diagnosis of bronchobiliary fistula was made based on HIDA scan and confirmed by operative cholangiogram.

RESULTS

Successful correction of this fistula was accomplished by operative closure of the fistulous tract and diversion of the narrowed bile duct by hepaticojejunal bypass.