[Spontaneous perforation of the biliary tract during the neonatal period]

Spontaneous perforation of the biliary passages is a rare condition during the first months of life. The course of the condition may be acute or more chronic. The symptoms are jaundice, clay-coloured stools, dark urine, distended abdomen, regurgitation and failure to thrive. The diagnosis can be established by scanning of the abdomen and 99mTc-HIDA-scintigraphy of the biliary passages. The perforation is usually found to be localized to the transition between the cystic duct and the common hepatic duct and is probably due to a localized development defect in the biliary passages. Operation is always required. The prognosis is good and the infants do well after operation.