Cholangitis associated with cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts after antireflux valve construction in biliary atresia.

An intussusception-type antireflux valve (ARV) has been introduced to prevent postoperative ascending cholangitis in the management of biliary atresia (BA). We investigated the characteristics of cholangitis in the management of BA using the ARV in 38 patients who had undergone an operation at our institution; 29 underwent ARV construction at the same time as portenterostomy (PEO) or hepaticojejunostomy. One patient underwent ARV construction for refractory cholangitis with cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts (CDIB) long after the PEO. Five of 29 patients who had ARV construction developed CDIB complicated by severe, refractory cholangitis. One or two episodes of mild cholangitis were observed in 5 (20.8%) of 24 patients who did not show CDIB. An ARV created for postoperative recurrent cholangitis associated with CDIB was ineffective. Preoperative cholangitis associated with a type I choledochal cyst and CDIB was observed in 1 patient. In conclusion, the ARV was effective in preventing refractory cholangitis without CDIB, but ineffective in preventing cholangitis with CDIB. Our findings suggest that CDIB resulting from the ongoing process of BA could be a potential target of bacterial infection through other routes than bilioenteric reflux.