Ascending cholangitis: Difference between revisions

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'''Ascending cholangitis''', also known as '''acute cholangitis''' or simply '''cholangitis''', is [[inflammation]] of the [[bile duct]] (cholangiuscholangitis), usually caused by [[bacteria]] ascending from [[Ampulla of Vater|its junction]] with the [[duodenum]] (first part of the [[small intestine]]). It tends to occur if the bile duct is already partially obstructed by [[gallstone]]s.<ref name=Kinney/><ref name=schwartz/>

Cholangitis can be life-threatening, and is regarded as a [[medical emergency]].<ref name=Kinney/> Characteristic symptoms include [[jaundice|yellow discoloration of the skin or whites of the eyes]], [[fever]], [[abdominal pain]], and in severe cases, [[hypotension|low blood pressure]] and [[mental confusion|confusion]]. Initial treatment is with [[intravenous fluid]]s and [[antibiotic]]s, but there is often an underlying problem (such as gallstones or [[Stenosis|narrowing]] in the bile duct) for which further tests and treatments may be necessary, usually in the form of [[endoscopy]] to relieve obstruction of the bile duct.<ref name=Kinney/><ref name=Williams/> The word is from Greek ''chol''-, bile + ''ang''-, vessel + -''itis'', [[inflammation]].