Diagnosis and treatment for biliary atresia

Objective To investigate the diagnosis, treatment and postoperative outcome of biliary atresia, and discuss early diagnosis and new medical strategies of treatment.Methods The diagnosis, operative age, surgical procedures and postoperative survival rate of 28 children in our hospital with biliary atresia were reviewed retrospectively.Results The early diagnostic rate of biliary atresia was 14%. Operative age was from 13 to 270 days and that of 4 (14%) children was 60 days, There were 13 children with age ranging from 61 to 90 days (46%), 8 from 91 to 120 days (29%) and 3120 days (11%). No child with biliary atresia received liver transplantation. The 1 5 survival rate was 35% (9/25).Conclusion Lower early diagnostic rates were the main causes of lower survival rates. Close observation of clinical presentations and imaging features of children with biliary atresia and exploration under laparoscopy in time can enhance the early diagnostic rates of patients with biliary atresia. The long term survival rates can be increased through those methods such as modifying surgical procedures, more biliary atresia children with advanced disease accepting liver transplantation and developing new medical strategies for treating patients with biliary atresia.