Acute cholangitis in Singapore
Chew, R.K.; Lim, S.; Cheng, C.; Foong, W.C.
Annals of the Academy of Medicine Singapore 15(2): 172-175
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0304-4602 PMID: 3530103 Document Number: 272058
115 cases of acute calculous cholangitis were analysed for their presentations, treatment and complications. There were slightly more Chinese males than females (1:4:1) and the mean age was 62 years old. Though pain was the commonest symptom (95.7%), only 35.7% of patients had complete Charcot's triad, 21.7% presented in septicaemic shock. E. Coli and Klebsiella were the commenest organisms isolated. All patients had cholecystectomy and exploration of common bile ducts. Twenty patients had additional choledochontrostomy performed. 50.4% of patients developed complications and the overall mortality was 16.5%. Patients over 60 presented in shock carried a significantly higher mortality (40%).