Acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis (AOSC) is a common acute abdomen in surgery. Cholelithiasis and bile duct obstruction are the main causes. The disease has the advantages of rapid onset, rapid progress and high mortality. At present, it is not difficult to make diagnosis by clinical manifestation, imaging examination and laboratory examination. On the basis of definite diagnosis, active non-surgical treatment and surgical intervention are the key. By searching the relevant literature on acute obstructive suppurative cholangitis at home and abroad, we reviews the latest research progress in etiology, diagnosis and treatment of AOSC, and focuses on the development of endoscopic treatment and the timing of operation, in order to serve the clinic and provide reference for the standardized diagnosis and treatment of AOSC.