BILIARY COMPLICATIONS OF FASCIOLA-HEPATICA - THE ROLE OF ENDOSCOPIC RETROGRADE CHOLANGIOGRAPHY IN MANAGEMENT

The parasite Fasciola hepatica resides in the biliary tree but rarely causes significant clinical sequelae. In this report, we review our ex perience with four patients in whom F. hepatica infection resulted in biliary complications, especially severe biliary colic and jaundice. T he diagnosis was achieved with endoscopic retrograde cholangiography w hich demonstrated the worms in the extrahepatic bile ducts. Endoscopic sphincterotomy was performed uneventfully in all patients allowing ba lloon extraction of the parasites and resolution of their symptoms.