Postoperative gastrointestinal hemorrhage in biliary atresia

During the past 9 years, we have treated 23 patients with gastrointestinal hemorrhage following corrective surgery for biliary atresia. Ulcers or erosions of the stomach, duodenum or intestinal wall were observed endoscopically in 20 cases. In other 3 cases, bleeding point was not determined endoscopically, but massive bleeding was recognized frequently. Ten patients bled within 6 months of surgery, and the incidence of bleeding was also seen even after the age of 10 years. A history of cholangitis, the presence of jaundice and the use of cholagogues were related to the postoperative gastrointestinal bleeding. Serum concentrations of gastrin and gastric inhibitory polypeptide showed high values after surgery in almost half the biliary atresia patients examined, however, no clear relationship between the concentration of these factors and gastrointestinal hemorrhage was established.