Liver transplantation for biliary atresia: 19-year, single-center experience.
OBJECTIVE
In this study, we describe our 19-year experience with liver transplantation as the definitive treatment for congenital biliary atresia.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective study of 115 liver transplants from 1984 to 2003 in 85 patients with congenital biliary atresia. We determined the impact of era of transplantation (1984-1993 and 1994-2003), recipient age (< 1 and > 1), prior portoenterostomy, and type of surgery (whole-, reduced-, and split-liver transplant) on the outcome of the transplant.


RESULTS
Overall long-term survival is 83%. Survival is greater in the more-recent era. No impact of age or prior portoenterostomy on survival was seen. Split-liver grafts showed superior graft survival, whereas reduced-liver transplants had the worst overall graft survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results confirm that long-term patient survival after liver transplantation for congenital biliary atresia is excellent. When required, partial liver grafts provide excellent long-term outcome.
Chin
L Thomas
LT
Division of Organ Transplantation, Department of Surgery, University of Wisconsin Medical School, 600 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53792-7375, USA.
D'Alessandro
Anthony M
AM
Knechtle
Stuart J
SJ
Fernandez
Luis A
LA
Leverson
Glen
G
Judd
Robert H
RH
Spaith
Elizabeth
E
Dalgic
Aydin
A
Sollinger
Hans W
HW
Kalayoglu
Munci
M
D001656:Biliary Atresia / Q000601:surgery*; D006085:Graft Survival; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016031:Liver Transplantation / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis