Current concept of the treatment of biliary atresia.

Hepatic portoenterostomy (Kasai operation) for the patient with biliary atresia (BA) can restore the bile flow in approximately 80% of children operated on before 60 days of life [1]. However, in terms of long-term survival, according to a recent nationwide survey among the major pediatric centers in Japan, only 325 of 2013 patients had more than 10 years' survival, and only 157 patients (7.8%) remained jaundice-free with normal liver function [2]. About 20% of BA cases without jaundice are generally able to survive for long periods; and most of those patients have portal hypertension or abnormal liver function [3-5]. As the results of liver transplantation have improved, controversy has arisen over the optimal care of these children [4, 6, 7]. Some investigators have claimed that transplantation is the favored primary therapy for most patients with BA [8]. We are thus at a turning point concerning the primary therapy of BA, which makes it necessary to determine the exact indications for the Kasai portoenterostomy and the timing of liver transplantation. This paper describes our strategy for the optimal treatment of BA patients based on our 117 patients who have had various form of portoenterostomy.