Acute cholangitis (AC) is an urgent medical condition characterized by inflammation of the biliary system due to ascending bacterial infection that carries a high mortality rate. Obstruction precedes infection and is caused by both nonmalignant and malignant etiologies, but most are attributed to biliary stone obstruction or choledocholithiasis. AC is a clinical diagnosis based on patient presentation, laboratory values, and imaging criteria and is further stratified by severity. Treatment involves fluid resuscitation, antibiotics, and biliary drainage following the severity of the presentation. This review article describes the latest updates in the diagnosis, classification, and management of AC, as well as the outcomes of different treatment modalities.
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