Endoscopic cholangiopancreatography in the infant: evaluation of a new prototype pediatric duodenoscope.

The usefulness of a new pediatric duodenoscope PJF in the diagnosis of neonatal cholestasis was studied in 23 infants with ages ranging from 19 to 150 days. In 22 of 23 infants the papilla was cannulated. In 13 of 14 neonates (93%) with neonatal hepatitis, the common bile duct was opacified and biliary atresia was excluded. In one of two neonates with choledochal cyst, the common bile duct was demonstrated. In six of seven neonates (86%) with biliary atresia, only the pancreatic duct was demonstrated and the diagnosis was suspected. Although absence of a common bile duct opacification does not rule out biliary atresia, ERCP with the new duodenoscope proved to be most useful in the diagnosis of normal biliary tree and served to avoid unnecessary surgery in most infants with neonatal cholestasis.