Early bile drainage in acute cholangitis

OBJECTIVE: We have studied the impact of early biliary drainage (surgical or endoscopical) on morbidity-mortality of acute cholangitis. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a five-year period (1988-1992) 106 patients were diagnosed of acute cholangitis (clinically, echographically and microbiologically). RESULTS: Surgical intervention was performed in 78% of the patients, endoscopic biliary drainage in 18% and in 4% medical treatment alone. In 65% of cases, biliary drainage was performed during the eight hours after diagnosis. Overall mortality rate was 3, 7% (4 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that early biliary drainage of acute cholangitis is the most important factor in order to achieve a low mortality rate.