Cholangitis: infection of a blocked bile duct

The Tokyo Guidelines 2018 (Kiriyama et al.) define acute cholangitis by systemic inflammation (fever or raised inflammatory markers) together with evidence of cholestasis (jaundice or abnormal liver tests) and of a biliary blockage on imaging, and grade it by organ dysfunction; treatment is antibiotics and drainage of the blocked duct, urgently in severe cases. In gallbladder and bile duct cancer the blockage is the tumour or a blocked stent, so the NHS bile duct cancer page lists "a high temperature, or you feel hot, cold or shivery" among the symptoms, and Cancer Research UK tells people with a stent to "contact your doctor straight away if you have signs of infection such as a high temperature or shivering".

The NHS sepsis page says to call 999 or go to A&E if an adult "is breathing very fast", "is confused, has slurred speech, or is not making sense", "has blue, pale or blotchy skin", "has a very high or very low temperature, feels hot or cold to the touch, or is shivery", "has a rash that does not fade when you press it" or "has symptoms you're worried might be sepsis", and notes that people having chemotherapy are at higher risk. In practice: a temperature or shaking with a stent in place or with jaundice means ringing the 24-hour oncology line or NHS 111 now, and 999 if any of the sepsis signs are present. This is orientation from public patient pages, not advice for your case: your own team's instructions and 24-hour number come first.