Digestive Problems
Diseases: Pancreas and Biliary Tree: Cholangitis
Cholangitis refers to inflammation of the bile ducts. A gallstone, or a number of stones may pass from the gallbladder into the main (common) bile duct and become lodged, obstructing flow of bile from the liver to the intestine. This results in a build up of bile behind the blockage. Symptoms include pain, a high fever, chills, nausea, vomiting and jaundice. The jaundice results from a build up of bilirubin in the bloodstream, which in turn leads to excess bilirubin in the skin. Patients may also note dark urine as a result of excess bilirubin escaping into urine. In addition, bowel movements may become pale, since it is bile that gives bowel movements their normal dark color. Cholangitis less commonly results from other conditions such as cancer.
Patients with the above symptoms are usually admitted to hospital and commenced on antibiotics. These help to relieve any infection within the bile ducts or the blood. Stones lodged in the bile ducts can then be removed during ERCP.