Table of contents
Acute cholangitis
What's new
Updated 2024 IDSA guidelines for diagnostic imaging and microbiological testing in acute cholangitis.
Background
Overview
Definition
Acute cholangitis is a bacterial infection that occurs in the setting of biliary obstruction, characterized by fever, abdominal pain, and jaundice.
1
Pathophysiology
The pathophysiology of acute cholangitis involves a blockage in the bile ducts, often due to choledocholithiasis or strictures. This blockage allows for the retrograde migration of bacteria from the intestine into the biliary system, leading to bacterial overgrowth and subsequent immune response, which results in inflammation and infection of the bile ducts.
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Epidemiology
The incidence of acute cholangitis in the US is estimated at 3,000 per 100,000 person-years.
2
Disease course
Clinically, patients with acute cholangitis often present with the Charcot triad of fever, jaundice, and RUQ pain. In severe cases, patients may also exhibit signs of sepsis, such as hypotension and altered mental status.
1
Prognosis and risk of recurrence
The prognosis can vary and is influenced by factors such as disease severity, the patient's overall health, and the timeliness and effectiveness of treatment. Certain laboratory values, such as a WBC count > 20,000 cells/mcL and a TBIL level > 10 mg/dL, have been identified as independent prognostic factors for adverse outcomes.
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Guidelines
Key sources
The following summarized guidelines for the evaluation and management of acute cholangitis are prepared by our editorial team based on guidelines from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA 2024), the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE 2021,2015), the American College of Radiology (ACR 2019), the Tokyo Guidelines (TG 2018), and the European Association for the Study of the Liver ...
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Classification and risk stratification
Risk assessment: as per IDSA 2024 guidelines, assess disease severity for risk stratification in patients with complicated intra-abdominal infections. Consider using the APACHE II as the preferred severity of illness score for risk stratification within 24 hours of hospital or ICU admission in adult patients with complicated intra-abdominal infection, if a severity of illness score is used.
B
Diagnostic investigations
Clinical assessment
As per EASL 2016 guidelines:
Elicit medical history and perform physical examination to identify the characteristic symptoms of gallbladder stones, such as episodic attacks of severe pain in the right upper abdominal quadrant or epigastrium for at least 15-30 minutes with radiation to the right back or shoulder and a positive reaction to analgesics.
B
Evaluate for common bile duct stones in patients with jaundice, acute cholangitis, or acute pancreatitis.
A
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Laboratory tests (CBC and serum biochemistry)
Laboratory tests (blood cultures)
Abdominal ultrasound
CT
ERCP
MRCP
EUS
Medical management
Antibiotics
As per TG 2018 guidelines:
Administer antibiotics for 4-7 days in patients with acute cholangitis, once the source of infection is controlled.
B
Administer antibiotics according to the following regimens in patients with cholangitis:
Situation
Guidance
Grade 1
Penicillins - do not use ampicillin + sulbactam if the resistance rate is > 20%
Cephalosporins - cefazolin/cefotiam/cefuroxime/ceftriaxone/cefotaxime +/- metronidazole, cefmetazole, cefoxitin, flomoxef, cefoperazone + sulbactam
Carbapenems - ertapenem
Fluoroquinolones - ciprofloxacin/levofloxacin/pazufloxacin +/- metronidazole, moxifloxacin
Grade 2
Penicillins - piperacillin + tazobactam
Cephalosporins - ceftriaxone/cefotaxime/cefepime/cefozopran/ceftazidime with or without metronidazole, cefoperazone + sulbactam
Carbapenems - ertapenem
Fluoroquinolones - ciprofloxacin/levofloxacin/pazufloxacin +/- metronidazole, moxifloxacin
Grade 3
Penicillins - piperacillin + tazobactam
Cephalosporins - cefepime/ceftazidime/cefozopran +/- metronidazole
Carbapenems - imipenem + cilastatin, meropenem, doripenem, ertapenem
Monobactams - aztreonam +/- metronidazole
Healthcare-associated cholangitis
Penicillins - piperacillin + tazobactam
Cephalosporins - cefepime/ceftazidime/cefozopran +/- metronidazole
Carbapenems - imipenem/cilastatin, meropenem, doripenem, ertapenem
Monobactams - aztreonam +/- metronidazole
B
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Spasmolytics and opioids
NSAIDs
Therapeutic procedures
Biliary decompression: as per ACR 2019 guidelines, place an endoscopic internal biliary catheter with a removable plastic stent or a percutaneous internal/external biliary catheter as the initial therapeutic procedure in patients with dilated bile ducts and suspected biliary sepsis or acute cholangitis. Decide between procedures depending on the patient's anatomy and availability of resources and institutional preferences.
B
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Endoscopic sphincterotomy
Percutaneous or endoscopic biliary drainage
Litholysis and lithotripsy
Perioperative care
Preoperative evaluation
As per EASL 2016 guidelines:
Avoid obtaining routine preoperative tests other than abdominal ultrasound to confirm the presence of gallstones in patients planned to undergo cholecystectomy.
D
Consider obtaining liver biochemical tests before elective cholecystectomy in individually selected patients.
C
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Intraoperative cholangiography
Postoperative evaluation
Surgical interventions
Indications for cholecystectomy, symptomatic stones: as per EASL 2016 guidelines, perform cholecystectomy as the preferred option for treatment of patients with symptomatic gallbladder stones.
B
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Indications for cholecystectomy (concomitant abdominal surgery)
Indications for cholecystectomy (acute biliary pancreatitis)
Indications for cholecystectomy (bile duct stones)
Choice of surgical approach
Timing for cholecystectomy
Intra-abdominal culture
Intraoperative management of bile duct stones
Intraoperative management of bile duct injuries
Specific circumstances
Asymptomatic patients: as per EASL 2016 guidelines, avoid offering routine treatment in patients with asymptomatic gallbladder stones.
D
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Pregnant patients
Elderly patients
Preventative measures
Lifestyle modifications: as per EASL 2016 guidelines, advise healthy lifestyle and food, regular physical activity and maintenance of an ideal body weight to prevent cholesterol gallbladder stones and symptomatic gallstones.
B
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UDCA
Prophylactic cholecystectomy
Measures with no evidence for benefit