Aspergillus cholangitis: A late complication after Kasai portoenterostomy.

Ascending bacterial cholangitis can be a recurring complication in older children and adolescents who have undergone successful surgery for biliary atresia. The authors describe a 19-year-old girl with a history of recurrent late-onset, febrile cholangitis in whom persistent jaundice developed. Aspergillus terreus was isolated from her biliary fluid obtained at percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography. Despite prolonged external biliary drainage and systemic amphotericin B therapy, the fungus was not eliminated from her biliary system. Aspergillus cholangitis can occur in the portoenterostomy patient and may be highly resistant to conventional therapy. Copyright 2002, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.