Changes of intrahepatic bile duct dilatation after surgery for congenital dilatation of the bile duct.

Of 47 patients suffering from congenital dilatation of the bile duct whose intrahepatic bile ducts could be clearly demonstrated by operative cholangiogram or preoperative ERCP, 39 patients (83%) had dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. Follow-up studies in infants and children ranging from 1 year to 11 years after their corrective operation for congenital dilatation of the common bile duct showed no morbidity that was attributed to the presence of the dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. ECHO grams in 21 patients revealed marked decrease in size of the intrahepatic bile ducts except for two patients with huge cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts. These findings justify the employment of the standard operative procedure for the treatment of congenital dilatation of the bile duct even if it is associated with dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts.