Authors: González, Abad Horacio¹; Regalado, Victor Crespo²; Ende, Jef³

Source: Tropical Medicine & International Health, Volume 6, Number 2, February 2001 , pp. 146-150(5)

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Abstract:

Summary

Ascariasis is one of the most common helminthic diseases. Its most feared complication is migration into the biliary tree. Some authors recommend immediate duodenoscopy in all cases of biliary migration, with sphincterotomy for the extraction of the parasites, and a surgical extraction in case of intrahepatic ascariasis. We followed prospectively 69 patients with ultrasonographical evidence of migration. Initial treatment consisted of intravenous analgesics and antispasmodics, and albendazol 800 mg by mouth. Only patients with persisting symptoms or with high amylasaemia underwent duodenoscopy, with extraction in case of a visible worm. Surgery was limited to cases with persistent or progressive complications. In 97% of our cases the worms disappeared with noninvasive therapy alone. A duodenoscopy was done in 30 (42%) cases; in 10 (14.4%) a worm was found in the ampula of Vater and extracted without sphincterotomy. In none of the 6 cases with A. lumbricoides in the intrahepatic biliary tree did the parasite persist. Only one patient required surgical intervention. Treatment of A. lumbricoides migration to the biliary tract should be principally medical. Duodenoscopy with extraction of a visible worm should be limited to cases with persisting pain and/or hyperamylasaemia. Invasive methods like sphincterotomy and surgery should be restricted to patients who do not respond to conservative treatment.

Keywords: Ascaris lumbricoides; biliary migration; duodenoscopy; ultrasound; treatment

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-3156.2001.00657.x

Affiliations: 1: Department of Gastroenterology, Regional Hospital Vincente Corral Moscoso, Public Health Ministry, Cuenca, Ecuador 2: Provincial Hospital Homero Castanier Crespo, Public Health Ministry, Azogues, Ecuador 3: Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium

Publication date: 2001-02-01

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