Acute suppurative cholangitis secondary to calcific pancreatitis

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology and Hepatology
• Surgical Management
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Acute suppurative cholangitis is typically associated with biliary obstruction from calculi or malignancy.
• Calcific pancreatitis, while common, rarely leads to secondary cholangitis without other complicating factors.

Observation:

• This case report details an unusual instance of acute suppurative cholangitis.
• The cholangitis was secondary to calcific pancreatitis in the absence of gallstones or cancer.

Findings:

• Successful management was achieved through surgical decompression of the biliary system.
• The use of amikacin, a novel aminoglycoside antibiotic, was integral to treating the infection.

Implications:

• This case highlights a rare but manageable cause of acute suppurative cholangitis.
• It underscores the importance of considering pancreatitis as a potential etiology and the efficacy of amikacin in such scenarios.