The relationship between juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula and the presence of bacteria in the bile

Abstract

A total of 432 patients with gallstone disease were studied with respect to the existence of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula and their relationship to the presence of bacteria in the bile. A total of 63 patients were found to have diverticula with an incidence of 14.6 per cent, being significantly higher in the elderly group aged 60 years or older (p<0.01), and no sex difference was noted. Among the patients with diverticula, positive bacterial cultures of bile were recognized at a significantly higher frequency, being found in 49 of the 63 patients (77.8 per cent; p<0.01), and the probability of bilirubinate stones was also higher, being found in 35 of 37 patients (94.6 per cent; p<0.01). The presence of a diverticulum bore significant relation to a higher positive bile bacterial culture (p<0.05), dilatation of the common bile duct (p<0.05), and elevation of the bile duct pressure (p<0.05), even when the conditions were divided into cholecystolithiasis or choledocholithiasis. It was suggested that the presence of a diverticulum affected the flow in the bile duct by narrowing it from the outside and chronically stimulating the papilla, inducing biliary tract infection and/or the formation of gallstones. As the surgical procedures for juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula, including its indications, have not been established, long term follow up investigations seem necessary.