Biliary ascariasis in fifteen patients.

Ascarids in the biliary tract may cause cholecystitis, pancreatitis and obstruction of the common bile ducts. We retrospectively evaluated clinical features, radiographic findings and surgical treatment of 15 patients. Obstructive jaundice in eight patients (53.3%), acute cholecystitis in five patients (33.3%), and chronic calculous cholecystitis in two patients (13.3%) had been shown in our series. In four of the patients with obstructive jaundice signs of acute cholangitis were observed. Of 15 patients, two had hepatic abscess besides biliary ascariasis and one had hydatid cyst. In our series, all of the patients were operated on. Choledochotomy and primary closure were performed on six patients (40%), choledochoduodenostomy on six patients (40%), T-tube drainage on two patients (13.3%) and only cholecystectomy on one patient (6.6%). No mortality was determined in our patients.