How is biliary atresia treated?

  Gross had divided biliary atresia into operable (5%) and inoperable (95%), and had long been pessimistic about the treatment of inoperable biliary atresia. /The remaining 2/3 have various complications as they grow older and require timely liver transplantation. In China, the late start of pediatric liver transplantation, the lack of experience in liver transplantation techniques and postoperative management, and the expensive treatment costs have limited the widespread implementation of liver transplantation to some extent. In 1989, Kasai et al. summarized the results of 245 cases of biliary atresia and showed that 89% of those operated within 60 days of birth had good bile drainage after surgery, while only 41% of those operated after 90 days of birth had bile drainage after surgery, with 10-year survival rates of 74% and 19%, respectively, while the 10-year survival rate of those operated 120 days after birth was zero. The optimal age for surgery is currently considered to be within 60 days after birth. Therefore, many advocate that children with biliary atresia should be treated as emergencies or subacute cases.  In addition to the usual preparations for abdominal surgery, we should actively improve the general nutritional status and transfuse fresh blood or plasma to increase the plasma protein level and correct anemia. Give sufficient vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin D. Inject vitamin K to enhance the coagulation mechanism and bring the prothrombin time to the normal range. Antibiotics were applied 3 days before surgery to prevent the occurrence of infection.  For the surgical approach, an oblique incision under the right upper abdominal rib margin or a transverse incision across the epigastrium on the right side was used under general anesthesia. After entering the abdominal cavity, the extrahepatic biliary tract was fully explored and a few liver biopsies were taken for pathological examination to further understand the hepatic histological changes as a basis for postoperative estimation of prognosis and further treatment. The development of the gallbladder was examined, and the common bile duct and hepatic ducts were searched within the hepatoduodenal ligament for size, fibrosis, and dilatation or cystic degeneration of the proximal bile ducts, especially the hepatic ducts. The hepatic artery and its branches and the hepatic portal vein are also noted for any anatomical abnormalities. Intraoperative imaging can then be performed by puncturing the gallbladder or the dilated hepatic ducts in the hilar region to get a full picture of the diseased bile ducts, determine which type they belong to, and decide on the procedure to be used. In general, Kasai hilar jejunostomy should be used for Gross types I, II, III and Kasai type III; bile duct intestinal anastomosis is feasible for Gross types IV, V, VI and Kasai types I and II.