Acute Gallstone Cholangitis

Aka: Acute Gallstone Cholangitis, Ascending Cholangitis, Cholangitis, Charcot's Triad, Reynold's Pentad

1. Epidemiology
   1. Incidence rare under age 40 years
2. Causes
   1. Choledocolithiasis
   2. Biliary tract stricture
   3. Surgical anastomotic stricture
   4. Extrinsic compression from malignancy
3. Pathophysiology
   1. Complete biliary obstruction in presence of bacteria
      1. Gram Negative Bacteria
      2. Enterococci
      3. Anaerobic bascteria
   2. Reflux of bacteria into the lymphatics, hepatitic veins
      1. Results in systemic spread
4. Symptoms and Signs
   1. Charcot's Triad (seen in only 25% of patients)
      1. Fever
      2. Jaundice
      3. Right Upper Quadrant pain
   2. Reynold's Pentad (seen in only 14% of patients)
      1. Charcot's Triad and
      2. Shock and
      3. Altered mental status
   3. Other symptoms and signs
      1. Nausea or Vomiting
      2. Hepatomegaly (with tender liver edge)
      3. Splenomegaly
5. Labs
   1. Complete Blood Count
      1. Leukocytosis
   2. Liver Function Tests abnormal
      1. Bilirubin elevated in urine and plasma (40% of cases)
      2. Serum alkaline phsophatase elevated
   3. Blood Cultures (positive in 50% of cases)
6. Prognosis
   1. Mortality 100% if missed or incorrectly treated
7. Management
   1. Volume Resuscitation
   2. Vasopressor support as needed
   3. Broad spectrum parenteral antibiotics
   4. Rapid decompression of biliary tree
      1. Endoscopy with ERCP and sphincterotomy
         1. May be preferred as initial intervention
      2. Open common bile duct exploration
         1. High mortality and morbidity
8. References
   1. Poon (2001) Arch Surg 136:11-6