[The "sump" syndrome in cholecystectomy patients--its clinical characteristics and endoscopic treatment]

"Sump" syndrome is a rare complication of choledochoduodenoanastomosis (ChDA). 15 patients are discussed, 13 women and 2 men, mean age 47.7 years (32 to 67 years). The clinical picture is classified into two groups: I. with symptoms mainly from pancreas involvement (recurrent pancreatitis and other lesions of the pancreas) and functioning ChDA--10 patients; 2. with symptoms arising from simultaneous impairment of the biliary ducts and pancreas and a tendency toward obliteration of ChDA--5 patients. All patients had been cholecystectomized at various times in the past. To all 15 patients endoscopic papillosphincterotomy was performed which led to restoration of pancreatic drainage in the patients with functioning ChDA and of bile drainage in the patients with obliterated ChDA. The conclusion is that papillosphincterotomy is a reliable, cheap and less risky method than surgical intervention for treatment of "sump" syndrome in patients without suprapapillary stenosis of the biliary duct.