Successful late Kasai portoenterostomy.
This article describes an infant with extrahepatic biliary atresia who underwent a successful hepatoportoenterostomy at age 132 days in spite of a delay in diagnosis. Contributing to the delay in diagnosis of this case were the lack of appreciation of alcoholic stools, the presence of a gallbladder and distal common bile duct on ultrasound examination, and insufficient biopsy material for interpretation. This case emphasizes the variability in presentation and potential difficulties in diagnosis and the need for intraoperative cholangiogram and exploratory laparotomy in such cases. An approach to the patient with extrahepatic biliary atresia who is diagnosed late is discussed. A successful outcome can be achieved for such patients.
Bielamowicz
A
A
Ahmanson Pediatric Center, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048-1869.
Weitzman
J J
JJ
Alshak
N S
NS
Rosenthal
P
P
D001652:Bile Ducts / Q000473:pathology; D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D001706:Biopsy; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D011171:Portoenterostomy, Hepatic