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The Tokyo Guidelines 2013 (TG13) recommend that endoscopic drainage should be the first-choice treatment for biliary decompression in patients with acute cholangitis. Timing of biliary drainage for acute cholangitis should be based on the severity of the disease. For patients with severe acute cholangitis, appropriate organ support and urgent biliary drainage are needed. For patients with moderate acute cholangitis, early biliary drainage is needed. For patients with mild acute cholangitis, biliary drainage is needed when initial treatment such as antimicrobial therapy is ineffective. There are three methods of biliary drainage: endoscopic drainage, percutaneous transhepatic drainage, and surgical drainage. Endoscopic drainage is less invasive than the other two drainage methods. The drainage method (endoscopic nasobiliary drainage and stenting) depends on the endoscopist's preference but endoscopic sphincterotomy should be selected rather than endoscopic papillary balloon dilation from the aspect of procedure-related complications. In the TG13, balloon enteroscopy-assisted and endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainages have been newly added as specific drainage methods. Recent studies have demonstrated their usefulness and safety. These drainage methods will become more widespread in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim At the pancreatobiliary session of Endoscopic Forum Japan ( EFJ) 2016, current strategies for the endoscopic management of acute cholangitis were discussed. The topics consisted of two major parts, namely endoscopic management of acute cholangitis caused by common bile duct stones ( CBDS) and biliary stent occlusion. Methods Endoscopists from nine Japanese high-volume centers along with two overseas centers participated in the questionnaires and discussion. Results Strategies for management of cholangitis due to CBDS were agreed upon, and the clinical guideline of acute cholangitis (Tokyo guidelines 2013) was accepted. The best timing for drainage in Grade 2 (moderate) cholangitis urgent or early (<24 h) was inconclusive, and more data is required on this issue. Another controversy was the feasibility of one step stone extraction in the patient with cholangitis vs stone removal after the cholangitis had resolved. There were various opinions with regards to the management of acute cholangitis due to stent occlusion, and the strategies differed according to the stricture location (distal or hilar) and stent type initially placed (Covered or uncovered metal stent). Conclusion Strategies for management of cholangitis caused by CBD stones are well established according to the TG13. More evidence is required before further recommendations can be made with regards to cholangitis due to stent occlusion. We aim to clarify this in the near future with questionnaires and consensus from experts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]