The role of endoscopy in the management of recurrent pyogenic cholangitis: a review

Recurrent pyogenic cholangitis (RPC) is a clinical syndrome characterized by repeated episodes of suppurative cholangitis due to hepatolithiasis and extrahepatic stones in the biliary ducts. It is now recognized as a distinct syndrome with a different natural history and pathoetiology than spontaneously occurring liver abscesses. Most commonly seen in East Asian populations, this syndrome is growing increasingly common in Western Nations due to migration patterns. The exact pathogenesis of RPC remains elusive; although colonization of the biliary tract with particular enteric bacterial species, in combination with possible dietary factors, has been attributed as causative factors. Hepatobiliary surgery, in particular segmental hepatectomy, is often described as the definitive treatment of choice for RPC. The exact role of endoscopic intervention has been less clearly described in the literature. This review focuses on the management of RPC while highlighting situations in which endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography may be preferred over surgery as an initial or salvage therapeutic measure.