[Spontaneous perforation of the bile ducts in childhood].

At the pediatric surgery service of Centro Médico La Raza during 20 years six spontaneous perforations of biliary ducts have occurred. Two groups of causes are proposed; the first includes previous biliary ducts malformations with two sub-groups, one with great malformations as partial atresia, cystic dilatation and cystic disease of the biliary tract; the second sub-group includes weak areas. The second group has no previous pathology. Precipitating causes are infections and obstructions. Three of the six patients corresponded to duct perforation and three to gallbladder perforation; the initial diagnosis was different to biliary pathology in all the patients. Male were predominant; there was no previous pathology in any patient; this is difficult to interpret as all of them presented with important morphologic changes. Treatment possibilities are discussed comparing our experience with others'.