Endoscopic treatment of ascariasis causing acute obstructive cholangitis

Ascariasis lumbricoides is one of the most common helminthic infections in developing countries. Biliary ascariasis presents with recurrent cholangitis and sometimes with liver abscesses. We report the case of a young Philippino worker in Saudi Arabia who presented with obstructive jaundice, cholangitis and liver abscesses secondary to biliary tract ascariasis. The diagnosis was made at endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) and the obstructing worms were removed with a Dormia basket after endoscopic sphincterotomy at this procedure. Full resolution of the biliary and hepatic sepsis followed. Urgent ERCP and endoscopic decompression of the biliary system in biliary ascariasis is recommended.