Cholangitis

Question 1

What is cholangitis?

Answer 1

infection of the biliary tract

Question 2

What causes cholangitis?

Answer 2

biliary outflow obstruction and biliary infection due to stasis of fluid and increased elevated intraluminal pressure allows the bacteria colonisation of the biliary tree

Question 3

What causes cholangitis?

Answer 3

gallstones, ERCP, cholangiocarcinoma, pancreatitis, PSC, parasitic infections

Question 4

What are the most common infective organisms of cholangitis?

Answer 4

Escherichia Coli (27%), Klebsiella species (16%), and Enterococcus (15%).

Question 5

What are the clinical features of Cholangitis?

Answer 5

Jaudice, fever and RUQ pain- charcots triad, rigors, pyrexia, hypotension, confusion

Question 6

What are the differential diagnosis for cholangitis?

Answer 6

biliary colic and cholecystitis

Question 7

What investigations would you do for Cholangitis?

Answer 7

routine bloods, FBC, LFTs, blood cultures, ultrasound scan of the biliary tract will show bile duct dilatation, Gold standard is ERCP

Question 8

What is the management for cholangitis?

Answer 8

sepsis, should be managed by sepsis 6, need endoscopic biliary decompression, ERCP, or Percutaneous tranhepatic cholangiography