Emergency decompression of bile duct in acute obstructive suppurative 3 cholangitis by duodenoscopic cannulation: A lifesaving procedure

Abstract

Abstract Acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis is a life‐threatening condition characterized by abdominal pain, jaundice, spiking fever, shock, and central nervous system depression. Biliary calculi are by far the most common obstructing mechanism. This entity carries an almost 100% mortality unless early decompression of the obstructed common bile duct is performed. With recent progress in duodenofiberscopy, this can be accomplished by endoscopic cannulation using a large‐calibre stiff catheter. Three consecutive patients recently treated in the Kyushu University Hospital are presented. All were female and a stone was the cause of the obstruction in all. The stones impacted at the distal common bile duct of these patients were dislodged by endoscopic cannulation, resulting in a release of purulent bile and a dramatic improvement in the symptoms and signs. Endoscopic decompression is a quick, safe, and effective procedure for emergency treatment of acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis .