Stuck in the Sump: A Rare Complication of Biliary Surgery

Sump syndrome is a rare complication of biliary surgery that is now rarely seen in the era of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). It occurs when the distal common bile duct becomes obstructed between an anastomosis from a choledochoduodenostomy (CDD) and the ampulla of Vater, forming a sump that accumulates debris. Sump syndrome should be considered as a diagnosis in patients who present with cholangitis or pancreatitis and any history of biliary diversion, regardless of the time of presentation. We report a 61-year-old female who presented with sump syndrome two years after undergoing a side-to-side CDD.