Endoscopic removal of a fish bone piercing the bile duct after pancreaticoduodenectomy

A 67-year-old man was referred to our endoscopy unit by a surgeon for endoscopic removal of a fish bone suspected on computed tomography (CT). The patient was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer 3 years previously and underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy with R0 resection. Follow-up CT revealed a linear radiopaque structure traversing from the bile duct to the right lobe of the liver ([Fig. 1], arrow), suggestive of a fish bone. He experienced vomiting once after eating a deep-fried sandfish 5 days earlier but had been asymptomatic since then. As he had no signs of cholangitis, he was followed on an outpatient basis for a while. However, CT performed 2 months later also indicated residual fish bone in the bile duct, and double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) was performed ([Video 1]).

Fig. 1 Computed tomography showing a linear radiopaque structure traversing from the bile duct to the right lobe of the liver, suggestive of a fish bone (arrow).

Video 1 Double-balloon endoscopy for removal of a fish bone piercing the bile duct after pancreaticoduodenectomy.

DBE revealed a relatively wide-open choledochojejunostomy anastomosis. By carefully observing inside the bile duct, a yellowish-brown structure piercing the bile duct wall was detected endoscopically ([Fig. 2 a], arrow). The object was grabbed with biopsy forceps. When pull tension was applied, bulging of the bile duct wall was observed on the distal side. The forceps were then pushed towards the proximal side, and a needle-shaped elongated object popped out into the bile duct ([Fig. 2 b]). A balloon cholangiogram showed no contrast leakage ([Fig. 3]). The object was withdrawn into the scope channel and removed along with the endoscope. The removed object measured 3 cm long and was most likely the bone of a sandfish ([Fig. 4]).

Fig. 2 Double-balloon endoscopy. a A yellowish-brown structure was seen piercing the bile duct wall (arrow). b A needle-shaped elongated object was pulled out from the bile duct.

Fig. 3 Balloon cholangiogram performed after removal of the object showing no contrast leakage.

Fig. 4 A 3-cm-long object was removed from the bile duct and was most likely the bone of a sandfish.

Migration of fish bones to the bile duct is a possible complication following pancreaticoduodenectomy [1] [2] [3]. Intervention is controversial when the patient is asymptomatic, as some cases have been reported to disappear on subsequent CT [4]. However, considering the risk of stone formation and cholangitis, it seems reasonable to attempt endoscopic removal when migration remains on CT for a few months.

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Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

• References

• 1 Wu XL, Li SW. Biliary stricture caused by a fish bone masquerading as anastomotic recurrence from distal cholangiocarcinoma after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Am Surg 2020; 86: e1-e3
• 2 Sakakida T, Sato H, Doi T. et al. A bile duct stone formation around a fish bone as a nidus after pancreatoduodenectomy. Case Rep Gastroenterol 2018; 12: 69-75
• 3 Koga Y, Soyama A, Kitasato A. et al. Fishbone migration in the intrahepatic bile duct after pancreaticoduodenectomy. ACG Case Rep J 2018; 5: e18
• 4 Akahane M, Kusakabe M, Murakami M. et al. Fishbone migration to bile ducts after pancreaticoduodenectomy: a case series. Abdom Radiol (NY) 2019; 44: 1217-1222

Publication History

Article published online:
20 August 2020