BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine early prognostic indicators for the prediction of long-term survival rate and timing of the liver transplantation after the Kasai operation. METHODS: A retrospective chart study was performed on 142 patients with biliary atresia (BA). The patients were divided in a success and a failure group, according to whether the patients serum bilirubin levels returned to normal (less than 1.0 mg/dL) within 3 months. The differences in survival rates and performance status between the 2 groups were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The difference in cumulative survival rate between the 2 groups was striking. When the current status of the 40 patients who had survived for over 12 years was compared, 16 patients (53.3%) from the success group and 1 (9.1%) from the failure group had normal bilirubin levels, normal growth, no esophageal varix, and no hypersplenism. From the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, 3 types of deterioration were identified. Type 1 was death within 3 years. In type 2, deterioration occurred from 4 to 13 years. Type 3 was defined as unexpected deterioration in the success group, and its incidence was extremely low. CONCLUSIONS: Serum bilirubin level at 3 months after the Kasai operation can be used to predict long-term survival and the time when the onset of liver failure is likely to occur.
BACKGROUND/ PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine early prognostic indicators for the prediction of long-term survival rate and timing of the liver transplantation after the Kasai operation. METHODS: A retrospective chart study was performed on 142 patients with biliary atresia (BA). The patients were divided in a success and a failure group, according to whether the patients serum bilirubin levels returned to normal (less than 1.0 mg/dL) within 3 months. The differences in survival rates and performance status between the 2 groups were analyzed statistically. RESULTS: The difference in cumulative survival rate between the 2 groups was striking. When the current status of the 40 patients who had survived for over 12 years was compared, 16 patients (53.3%) from the success group and 1 (9.1%) from the failure group had normal bilirubin levels, normal growth, no esophageal varix, and no hypersplenism. From the Kaplan-Meier survival curve, 3 types of deterioration were identified. Type 1 was death within 3 years. In type 2, deterioration occurred from 4 to 13 years. Type 3 was defined as unexpected deterioration in the success group, and its incidence was extremely low. CONCLUSIONS: Serum bilirubin level at 3 months after the Kasai operation can be used to predict long-term survival and the time when the onset of liver failure is likely to occur.
Authors: Chen Zhen; Qiao Guoliang; Ma Lishuang; Zhang Zhen; Wang Chen; Zhang Jun; Liu Shuli; Guan Kaoping; Liu Chao; Yang Xuan; Li Long Journal: Pediatr Surg Int Date: 2015-04-18 Impact factor: 1.827
Authors: Patricia A DeRusso; Wen Ye; Ross Shepherd; Barbara A Haber; Benjamin L Shneider; Peter F Whitington; Kathleen B Schwarz; Jorge A Bezerra; Philip Rosenthal; Saul Karpen; Robert H Squires; John C Magee; Patricia R Robuck; Ronald J Sokol Journal: Hepatology Date: 2007-11 Impact factor: 17.425