Acute suppurative cholangitis is the most severe clinical form of bacterial biliary infection. 2) During a 14 year period, 29 patients were treated at the General Surgery Division A, of the Cosme Argerich General Hospital. 3) Patients were divided in two groups; a) acute suppurative cholangitis with (n:100 or b) without (n:19) evidence of biliary obstruction. In the former group, in addition to Charcot's triad, we found mental confusion and septic shock among clinical signs. 4) Gall stones were the most common cause of obstruction, followed by pancreatic and biliary carcinoma. 5) Diagnosis on admission was correct in 40% of patients. Charcot's triad was present in 19 of the 29 patients. 6) All 22 operated patients survived whereas 7 non operated patients died. 7) The high mortality observed was similar to that reported in other publications and could be partly due to delayed diagnosis, and the high frequency of multiple liver abscesses found at autopsy. 8) Newer diagnostic procedures have improved the differential diagnosis of obstructive jaundice. It is hoped that they will help in the earlier recognition of acute suppurative cholangitis and decrease the incidence of severe complications.
