Path Notes: Ascending Cholangitis****

Question 1

What is ascending cholangitis?

Answer 1

Inflammation of intrahepatic bile duct.

May be caused by invasion from liver, from a nearby source, or penetrating injury**

Often caused by bacteria ascending the duct from where it joins the duodenum at the major papilla at the Ampula of Vater. More likely to happen if the bile duct is already at least partially obstructed by gallstone(s)

Question 2

How does ascending cholangitis present, clinically?

Answer 2

1. Fever
2. RUQ pain
3. Jaundice

Life threatening
Patient will look and be very unwell

• Often accompanies gallstones
• Can often visualise thickened (inflamed) bile duct wall with ultrasound

DO NOT MISS!