Cholangitis pathway

Ascending cholangitis must be considered in any patient who has had liver surgery, particularly a Kasai portoenterostomy or liver transplant, or other biliary pathology (Primary Biliary Cirrhosis, Carolis) and who presents with pyrexia >38˚C without apparent cause. It should also be considered in patients with unexplained fever with other cholangiopathies. It can occur as a complication of a choledochal cyst (although rare). Patients should receive treatment as per the protocol below and always be discussed with the gastroenterology consultant on-call within 24 hours