Early complications of Kasai operation for biliary atresia

Abstract

Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relation between early complications of Kasai operation and high-dose steroids and antibiotics and to demonstrate the prognosis of biliary atresia(BA). Methods 281 patients diagnosed with biliary atresia(BA) type Ⅲ,admitted from Aug. 1994 to Aug 2008 were retrospectively reviewed and followed up for two years. The patients were divided into two groups. Patients in Group A were controls while patients in Group B were treated with high-dose steroids and antibiotics. We evaluated the relation between early complications and age at operation (days), baseline bilirubin, different treatments and 2 year survival. Results 93 patients had early complications,and cholangitis is the most common, There is no statistics difference of complications in age at operation and baseline bilirubin. The complication rate was 63. 6% in group A, and 25. 7% in group B(P＜0. 01). The cholangitis rate was 56. 4% in group A and 23. 9% in group B (P＜0. 01). Two groups showed no significant difference in digestive tract bleeding. The visit frequency rate was 92. 5%, while 2 year survival rate was 51. 2%. Patients with early complications or cholangitis have a 34. 4% or 32. 9% 2 year survival rate, while those without have a 59. 6% or 59. 2%(P＜ 0. 01). Patients with high-dose treatment in group B have a better 2 year survival rate (54. 0% vs 40. 0% ,P＜0. 05). Conclusions Early cholangitis was the risk factor of outcome after Kasai operation. These data implied that the use of high-dose steroids and antibiotics can lower the occurrence of cholangitis and elevate 2 year survival rate. Key words: Biliary atresia; Kasai operation; Postoperative complications