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Case Reports
. 2024 Apr 26;2024(4):rjae264.
doi: 10.1093/jscr/rjae264. eCollection 2024 Apr.

An uninvited guest, Ascaris in the bile duct causing cholangitis successfully treated with surgery

Darwin R Ramos  1 , Antonio S Robalino  1 , Daniel L Mogrovejo  1 , Doménica A Suárez  2 , Aitana E Ross Proaño  3 , Diana E Parrales  4 , Gabriel A Molina  5
Affiliations
Case Reports

An uninvited guest, Ascaris in the bile duct causing cholangitis successfully treated with surgery

Darwin R Ramos et al. J Surg Case Rep. .

Abstract

Parasitic infections continue to be a burden for developing countries-the lack of hygiene measures and clean water results in dangerous scenarios that can lead to challenging problems. Most Ascaris lumbricoides infections are usually mild; nonetheless, in rare cases in endemic regions, they can migrate to the bile duct and cause severe complications requiring surgery. We present the case of a 43-year-old woman who had severe cholangitis due to A. lumbricoides. The worm migrated from the bowel and obstructed the bile duct; after surgery, the patient fully recovered.

Keywords: Ascaris lumbricoides; cholangitis; parasites.

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Conflict of interest statement

None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
(A) Echography shows the bile duct dilated with the Ascaris inside it; (B) echography is a straight, non-shadowing echoic cord-like structure in the bile duct.
Figure 2
Figure 2
(A) The Ascaris is seen inside the bile duct; (B) the Ascaris is completely removed from the bile duct, choledochotomy is seen as well.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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