children s health issues
Biliary Atresia
Treatment of Biliary Atresia
Surgery Frequently liver transplantation Surgery is needed to create a path for bile to drain from the liver. The path is made by sewing a loop of intestine to the liver where the bile duct comes out. This operation should be done in the first month of life, before the liver has become scarred. If the operation is unsuccessful, infants need liver transplantation. Even when the operation is successful, about half of infants continue to have worsening liver disease and ultimately need liver transplantation. After the operation, infants are often given antibiotics for a year to prevent inflammation of the bile ducts. They may also be given a medication called ursodiol. Ursodiol increases the flow of bile, which helps keep the bile drainage path open. Because good nutrition is important, infants are also given supplemental Fat-soluble vitamins . Infants who cannot have the surgery usually require Liver Transplantation by 1 year of age. 