OBJECTIVES: : Biliary atresia (BA) is a leading cause of end-stage paediatric liver disease. Standard BA treatment is sequential surgery with an initial Kasai procedure (KP) followed by liver transplant (LT) for patients who progress to liver failure. A key determinant for the post-KP patient survival with their native liver is patient age at KP (older age, poorer outcome). Recently, European studies have reported that caseload experience influences prognosis with centres managing <5 cases per year (UK) or <2 cases per year (France) having worse survival. Our study investigates the effect of caseload experience on outcomes of Canadian patients with BA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: : A national database of cases with BA, born from 1992 to 2002, was examined. Patients were grouped according to treatment centre size (A: on average <1 case per year; B: 1 to 3 cases per year; and C: >3 cases per year). Overall patient, post-KP native liver, and LT survivals were compared between centres. Outcome parameters were reevaluated for patients grouped by the largest Canadian centre (>5 cases per year) and all other centres (<5 cases per year). RESULTS: : Two-hundred thirty patients were identified among 6 group A, 4 group B, and 2 group C centres. The overall median age at KP was 64 days. There were no significant differences in patient, post-KP native liver, or LT survivals between the sized centres and even the largest centre, with the overall 4-year post-KP native liver survival being 39%. CONCLUSIONS: : Caseload experience does not importantly affect the outcomes for Canadian children with BA. Although outcomes in Canada are comparable to those elsewhere, national policies directed towards timely referral and earlier age at KP rather than centralisation of care are needed.
OBJECTIVES: : Biliary atresia (BA) is a leading cause of end-stage paediatric liver disease. Standard BA treatment is sequential surgery with an initial Kasai procedure (KP) followed by liver transplant (LT) for patients who progress to liver failure. A key determinant for the post-KP patient survival with their native liver is patient age at KP (older age, poorer outcome). Recently, European studies have reported that caseload experience influences prognosis with centres managing <5 cases per year (UK) or <2 cases per year (France) having worse survival. Our study investigates the effect of caseload experience on outcomes of Canadian patients with BA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: : A national database of cases with BA, born from 1992 to 2002, was examined. Patients were grouped according to treatment centre size (A: on average <1 case per year; B: 1 to 3 cases per year; and C: >3 cases per year). Overall patient, post-KP native liver, and LT survivals were compared between centres. Outcome parameters were reevaluated for patients grouped by the largest Canadian centre (>5 cases per year) and all other centres (<5 cases per year). RESULTS: : Two-hundred thirty patients were identified among 6 group A, 4 group B, and 2 group C centres. The overall median age at KP was 64 days. There were no significant differences in patient, post-KP native liver, or LT survivals between the sized centres and even the largest centre, with the overall 4-year post-KP native liver survival being 39%. CONCLUSIONS: : Caseload experience does not importantly affect the outcomes for Canadian children with BA. Although outcomes in Canada are comparable to those elsewhere, national policies directed towards timely referral and earlier age at KP rather than centralisation of care are needed.
Authors: Jorge A Bezerra; Cathie Spino; John C Magee; Benjamin L Shneider; Philip Rosenthal; Kasper S Wang; Jessi Erlichman; Barbara Haber; Paula M Hertel; Saul J Karpen; Nanda Kerkar; Kathleen M Loomes; Jean P Molleston; Karen F Murray; Rene Romero; Kathleen B Schwarz; Ross Shepherd; Frederick J Suchy; Yumirle P Turmelle; Peter F Whitington; Jeffrey Moore; Averell H Sherker; Patricia R Robuck; Ronald J Sokol Journal: JAMA Date: 2014-05-07 Impact factor: 56.272
Authors: Lorraine I Kelley-Quon; Eveline Shue; Rita V Burke; Caitlin Smith; Karen Kling; Elaa Mahdi; Shadassa Ourshalimian; Michael Fenlon; Matthew Dellinger; Stephen B Shew; Justin Lee; Benjamin Padilla; Thomas Inge; Jonathan Roach; Ahmed I Marwan; Katie W Russell; Romeo Ignacio; Elizabeth Fialkowski; Amar Nijagal; Cecilia Im; Kenneth S Azarow; Daniel J Ostlie; Kasper Wang Journal: Pediatr Surg Int Date: 2021-12-02 Impact factor: 1.827
Authors: Kin Wai E Chan; Kim Hung Lee; Siu Yan B Tsui; Yuen Shan Wong; Kit Yi K Pang; Jennifer Wai Cheung Mou; Yuk Him Tam Journal: Pediatr Surg Int Date: 2012-09-18 Impact factor: 1.827