Diagnosis, etiology and treatment of cholangitis following bilio-digestive surgery
Carrel, T.; Matthews, J.; Schweizer, W.; Baer, H.; Gertsch, P.; Blumgart, L.H.
Helvetica Chirurgica Acta 56(6): 891-896
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0018-0181 PMID: 2373627 Document Number: 355568
Cholangitis occurring after biliary-enteric anastomosis is a well-recognized but insufficiently analyzed surgical complication. Guidelines for assessment have not been established and management remains controversial. We examined a two-year experience with recurrent cholangitis following bilio-enteric anastomosis; cholangitis in the absence of anastomotic obstruction was surprisingly frequently encountered. Although selected cases without anastomotic stenosis may be amenable to nonoperative treatment, a low threshold for surgical reintervention should be maintained because radiologic assessment of anastomotic patency is often equivocal and the clinical problem is often best managed surgically.