Summary

• Cholangitis is defined as an infection of the biliary tree that requires prompt diagnosis and treatment.
• Most patients have fever, jaundice, and RUQ pain (Charcot's triad).
• Cholangitis can quickly become an acute, septic, life-threatening infection that requires rapid evaluation and treatment.
• The most common causes are choledocholithiasis and benign and malignant strictures.
• Antibiotics alone do not provide sufficient treatment in the majority of patients. Drainage of the biliary tree is the most critical step in management.
• If untreated, sepsis with shock, vascular collapse, multi-organ failure, and potentially death can occur.