Skip to main content
Log in

Is age really critical when performing portoenterostomy for biliary atresia?

  • Case Reports
  • Published:
Pediatric Surgery International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We report on two infants with biliary atresia who underwent a successful Kasai operation at the age of 125 and 109 days, respectively. These cases support the hypothesis that in some cases the biliary tract may be normal or near-normal at birth, but secondary changes may later lead to an abnormality. Under such circumstances the prognosis is influenced by the length of time since the onset of biliary tract obstruction, and not by the absolute age of the patient. This implies that the Kasai operation should still be considered after the age of 100 days of life.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bangaru B, Morecki R, Glaser JH, et al (1980) Comparative studies of biliary atresia in human newborn and reovirus induced cholangitis in weaning mice. Lab Invest 43: 456–462

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bielamowocz A, Weitzman JJ, Alshak NS et al (1992) Successful late Kasai portoenterostomy. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 14: 232–236

    Google Scholar 

  3. Desmet VJ (1987) Cholangitis: past, present and future. Semin Liver Dis 7: 67–72

    Google Scholar 

  4. Landing BH (1974) Considerations of the pathogenesis of neonatal hepatitis, biliary atresia and choledochal cyst: the concept of infantile obstructive cholangiopathy. Prog Pediatr Surg 6: 113–139

    Google Scholar 

  5. Mieli-Vergani G, Howard ER, Portman B, et al (1989) Late referral for biliary atresia — missed opportunities for effective surgery. Lancet 1: 421–423

    Google Scholar 

  6. Nakajo T, Hashizume K, Saeki M, et al (1990) Intussusception-type antireflux valve in the Roux-en-Y loop to prevent ascending cholangitis after hepatic portojejunostomy. J Pediatr Surg 25: 311–314

    Google Scholar 

  7. National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference Statement (1984) Liver transplantation, June 20–23, 1983. Hepatology 4: 1078–1105

    Google Scholar 

  8. Ohi R, Ibrahim M (1992) Biliary atresia. Semi Pediatr Surg 1: 115–124

    Google Scholar 

  9. Oppenheimer EH, Esterly JR (1973) Cytomegalovirus: a possible cause of biliary atresia. Am J Path 71: 22

    Google Scholar 

  10. Schreiber RA, Kleinman RE (1993) Genetics, immunology, and biliary atresia: an opening or a diversion? J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 16: 111–113

    Google Scholar 

  11. Silveria TR, Salzano FM, Donaldson PT, et al (1993) Association between HLA and extrahepatic biliary atresia. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 16: 114–117

    Google Scholar 

  12. Strauss L, Bernstein L (1968) Neonatal hepatitis in congenital rubella: a histopathological st study. Arch Pathol 86: 317–327

    Google Scholar 

  13. Weaver LT, Nelson R, Bell TM (1984) The association of extrahepatic bile duct atresia and neonatal Epstein-Barr virus infection. Acta Pediatr Scand 73: 155–157

    Google Scholar 

  14. Witzleben CL (1976) Etiology(ies) of infantile obstructive cholangiopathy. J Pediatr 88: 901–910

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Suita, S., Arima, T., Kubota, M. et al. Is age really critical when performing portoenterostomy for biliary atresia?. Pediatr Surg Int 10, 48–50 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00174444

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00174444

Key words

Navigation