Sump Syndrome

[Guest guest]

My husband (dx PSC 1999)just finished a breif stay at the hospital

for treatment of fever chills, upper right quadrant pain, vomiting,

etc. This is the second stay at the hospital since January with the

same symptoms. During both visits the CT scan showed what the doc

called " sludge " in his ducts. Treament with an antibiotic during his

stay seemed sustain his bilirubin count and make him feel well

enough for discharge. At his follow up appt, his GI briefly

mentioned Sump Syndrome causing these flair-ups. I was curious if

anyone has had experience with this syndrome along with PSC. I've

done a little research, and the symptoms that have landed him in the

hospital seem to fit the bill.

His follow up was yesterday, and tonight he's not feeling well

again. Both my husband and I feel he may need an ERCP (he's rcvd his

share in the past - just not recently)to make him feel better for a

longer period of time.

Curious if anyone can give some input? We just don't know where to

go at this point and seem to have to come up with all the answers

ourselves - so frustrating!

- (wife of age 28 - PSC '99)

[Guest guest]

Learn something every day! I've not heard of this, but it sure describes my condition prior to cholecystectomy. See http://www.ajronline.org/cgi/reprint/158/2/315.pdf for a good description.

The part that particularly caught my eye was:

....The biliary sump syndrome occurs when accumulation of debris, stones, and static bile acts as a nidus for bacterial proliferation, predisposing the patient to cholangitis…

A nidus (I had to look it up) is defined as:

Nidus: The Latin word for " nest " , nidus is used in medicine to refer to any structure that resembles a nest in appearance or function. Just as a nest is a repository for the eggs of birds, insects and other animals, a nidus is a breeding place where bacteria, parasites and other agents of a disease lodge and develop. This is a nidus of infection, a focus of infection.

That's pretty much the description my gall bladder surgeon used after he removed it. It was not responding to the " signals " to expel bile, so it was 3 times normal size and clearly diseased. (My wife's description is a little more graphic - cesspool, if I remember!).

Arne

56 - UC 1977, PSC 2000

Alive and (mostly) well in Minnesota

________________________________

From: [mailto: ] On Behalf Of The Hancocks

....At his follow up appt, his GI briefly mentioned Sump Syndrome causing these flair-ups...

[Guest guest]

Thanks for teaching us something new Arne !Have a great holiday weekend ,LeeLearn something every day!  I've not heard of this, but it sure describes my condition prior to cholecystectomy.  Seehttp://www.ajronline.org/cgi/reprint/158/2/315.pdf for a good description.

[Guest guest]

>

> Learn something every day! I've not heard of this, but it sure

describes my

> condition prior to cholecystectomy.

Thanks for your input!

The interesting thing is, my husband had a cholecystectomy in 1999

when he was diagnosed, so in his case, this is occuring 9 years

later?

is feeling much worse than he did last night, his eyes are

definatly yellow. We are awaiting a call from his GI to see where he

wants to send us this time. I think they are going to send him to

the University of Washington, or Virgina Mason. Hopefully someone

there can make him feel at the very least - comfortable.

My heart goes out to every single one of you. I don't post often,

but I read daily and try to educate myself as much as possible.

Thank you for making us not feel alone. I think this is the one and

only place to turn to when we are feeling so lost.

(wife of age 28 - psc '99)

Washington State