BACKGROUND: To evaluate if the occlusion of distal choledochal suture will remain occluded over time, in patients submitted to a side-to-side choledochoduodenostomy with a choledochal distal occlusion, a technical modification to prevent the "Sump Syndrome" (Fava et al, 1989). METHODS: Fourteen patients with a diagnosis of choledocholithiasis have been submitted to a side-to-side choledochoduodenostomy with a choledochal distal occlusion. Follow-up varied from three months up to ten years. These patients were evaluated for their clinical aspects under the Visick criteria. Blood screening tests for serum glutamicoxalacetic transaminases, serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminases, gama-GT, alkaline phosphatase and bilirubins were obtained. All of them have been further submitted to a resonance cholangiopancreatography. Those patients whose exams showed alterations were further submitted to an endoscopic-retrograde cholangio-pancreatography with a view towards the identification and treatment of eventual problems resultant from the choledochoduodenostomy as well as for definitive evaluation of the biliar tree. RESULTS: As verified, the distal choledochal suture had opened in 11 (78.6%) of the patients, of which four ocurred in less than one year after the surgery, four between one and five years and the remaining three after five years. Three patients (21.4%) presented the "Sump Syndrome" three months, nine months and five years after the surgery respectively. They have been successfuly treated by endoscopic sphyncterotomy. CONCLUSION: We conclude that in patients treated for choledocholithiasis without complications through choledochoduodenostomy modified by Fava et al, the distal choledochal suture does not remain occluded over time thus, not avoiding the "Sump Syndrome".
Gallstones; Surgery; Anastomosis, surgical
