Duodenal intubation in the differential diagnosis of obstructive jaundice in infants.

The aim of this work was to analyse the value of duodenal intubation in the differential diagnosis of obstructive jaundice in infants. Thirty-six patients were studied, ages varying between one and five months (average 2.4), 21 males and 15 females, all presenting cholestasis characterized by jaundice, choluria and fecal acholia. Of the 36 patients, 15 with negative intubations had during surgery a confirmation of a diagnosis of biliary atresia. The other 21 infants with positive duodenal intubation received at that moment the diagnosis of "neonatal hepatitis syndrome". Because it is efficient, harmless and inexpensive, duodenal intubation is an useful method in deciding whether cholestasis in infants requires medical or surgical treatment.