Acute Cholangitis: Clinical Recognition, Severity Stratification, and Evidence-Based Management
Pathophysiology & Clinical Context Acute cholangitis is an acute bacterial infection of the biliary tree secondary to biliary obstruction (most commonly choledocholithiasis), leading to stasis, ascending infection, and systemic inflammation. The classic Charcot’s triad (fever, RUQ pain, jaundice) occurs in only 50–70% of cases; the presence of Reynolds’ pentad (adding hypotension and altered mental status)…
