Department of Medicine--Section of Gastroenterology--G5, University of Minnesota/Hennepin County Medical Center, 701 Park Avenue, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA. kinn0049@umn.edu
Acute ascending cholangitis is a potential life-threatening emergency characterized by infection and obstruction of the biliary tree. This article reviews the pathogenesis and clinical approach to patients with ascending cholangitis and examines the literature on this topic.