Complications
Distal common bile duct stones that lead to cholangitis can also lead to the development of acute pancreatitis via obstruction of the pancreatic duct or the common channel joining the common bile duct and the pancreatic duct.
Acute pancreatitis is also a complication of ERCP, so the diagnosis should be considered in patients who develop acute abdominal pain following this procedure.[55]
If patients have inadequate biliary drainage, symptoms will likely persist and/or worsen. Patient failure to improve rapidly post-procedure is an indication for prompt re-evaluation of the biliary tree.
In rare cases, cholangitis can lead to the formation of a hepatic abscess. This may be more common in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis, secondary sclerosing cholangitis, or post-surgical biliary anatomy changes.
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