Ascending cholangitis

Ascending cholangitis

Ascending cholangitis (pronunciation: uh-sen-ding ko-lan-ji-tis), also known as acute cholangitis or simply cholangitis, is an infection of the bile duct (cholangio) system. The term is derived from the Greek words "chol" meaning bile, "angio" meaning vessel, and "itis" meaning inflammation.

Definition

Ascending cholangitis is a type of infection that occurs when the bile ducts become blocked, allowing bacteria to ascend from the duodenum into the biliary tree. This can lead to a serious infection that can spread to the liver, gallbladder, and potentially the bloodstream.

Symptoms

Common symptoms of ascending cholangitis include jaundice, fever, and abdominal pain. Other symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, and chills.

Causes

The most common cause of ascending cholangitis is a blockage in the bile ducts due to gallstones. Other causes can include tumors, strictures, or parasites.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of ascending cholangitis typically involves blood tests, imaging studies, and potentially a liver biopsy.

Treatment

Treatment for ascending cholangitis usually involves antibiotics to treat the infection and procedures to relieve the blockage in the bile ducts. In severe cases, surgery may be required.

Related Terms

• Bile duct
• Duodenum
• Biliary tree
• Liver
• Gallbladder
• Jaundice
• Fever
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Chills
• Gallstones
• Tumors
• Strictures
• Parasites
• Blood tests
• Imaging studies
• Liver biopsy
• Antibiotics
• Surgery

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Ascending cholangitis
• Wikipedia's article - Ascending cholangitis

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