Acute cholangitis is acute inflammation and infection of the biliary tract (1).
The onset of acute cholangitis requires 2 factors
Not all obstructing lesions are followed by biliary infection
Obstruction causes an increase in ductal pressure. The bacteria proliferate and escape into the systemic circulation via the hepatic sinusoids. The manifestations of sepsis may overshadow those of hepato-biliary disease causing acute suppurative cholangitis.
Without prompt diagnosis and treatment, acute cholangitis can lead rapidly to septicaemia, shock and death (1):
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