Experience with laparoscopy for the evaluation of cholestasis in newborns.

In many children with cholestasis, ultrasonography can rule out the possibility of biliary atresia. In the few cases when a diagnosis cannot be established by ultrasonography, laparoscopy is still justified as an initial procedure, as the amount of trauma involved is still minimal. Of the 36 children with cholestasis on which a laparoscopy was performed, one-third eventually underwent laparotomy because of biliary atresia. The question was whether the primary laparoscopy was really advantageous. In comparison to laparotomy no advantages were found with regard to anesthesia time; morbidity, or complications. The diagnostic accuracy was comparable to that of laparotomy. The only complication was a small scar hernia in a premature baby.