Endoscopic management of limy bile syndrome presenting with obstructive jaundice

Abstract

Limy bile syndrome is a rare entity in which there is an excessive precipitation of calcium salts, mainly calcium carbonate in the gallbladder (GB) and to a rare extent in the common bile duct (CBD), making it radiopaque in plain radiographs. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy is safe and effective in patients with limy bile confined to the GB. However, for patients with an extension to the CBD, bile duct exploration with a T-tube placement, endoscopic naso-billiary drainage or endoscopic sphincterotomy (EST) may be warranted. We report a case of limy bile syndrome associated with obstructive jaundice in a young female patient. She was managed successfully with EST followed by laparoscopic cholecystectomy.