Short-Term Outcome of Infants with Biliary Artesia Following Kasai Portoenterostomy.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the short-term outcome of Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE) in infants with biliary atresia (BA) and to identify the prognostic factors for successful KPE.

METHODS

The study included 127 infants with BA who presented to the Pediatric Hepatology Unit, Cairo University over a period of 10 y. All patients were followed up for 6-mo post-KPE. Data retrieved from the patients' files included: history, clinical examination and investigations done at the time of presentation and after 6 mo of KPE. A successful outcome was defined as jaundice clearance after 6 mo of KPE.

RESULTS

Age at KPE ranged from 30-180 d. Marked fibrosis was present more frequently among older patients. Eighty-seven patients (67%) had yellow-colored stools immediately after KPE. Jaundice clearance 6 mo after KPE was achieved in 40 patients (31.5%). Lower age at time of KPE was significantly associated with successful KPE (P = 0.03). Steroid therapy post-KPE did not show improvement in jaundice clearance.

CONCLUSIONS

KPE had a 6-mo short term successful outcome in one-third of patients with BA. Younger age at KPE is an important prognostic factor to increase the rate of jaundice clearance. Steroids therapy failed to achieve a favorable outcome.