Ascending cholangitis and other infections

Ascending cholangitis may occur as an early or late complication of biliary surgery:

• early complication of surgical exploration of the common duct system in a jaundiced patient since bile in this situation is almost always infected. Prophylactic antibiotics should alse be used when operating on jaundiced patients to minimise this development.
  
  
• late complication where an anastomosis develops between the bile ducts and the gut. Active infection will only occur when there is bile duct stasis due to inadequate drainage.