Urgent versus early ERCP in mild-to-moderate acute cholangitis: what the trial found

Study Title and Why It Matters

Urgent versus early ERCP in mild-to-moderate acute cholangitis: a randomised controlled trial

Acute cholangitis is a potentially serious infection of the bile ducts, most often caused by a blockage from gallstones or, less commonly, strictures or tumors. When bile cannot drain properly, bacteria can multiply, leading to infection, inflammation, jaundice, fever, abdominal pain, and in severe cases, organ failure or death. A key treatment is endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, or ERCP, a procedure that uses an endoscope passed through the mouth to reach the bile duct and relieve the blockage, often by removing stones or placing a stent.