Reoperation in patients with biliary atresia

Twenty-seven reoperations were done on 23 patients among 100 infants with biliary atresia who have been treated at Tohoku University Hospital between 1971 and 1981. Nineteen patients had a single reoperation and 4 patients had 2 reoperations. We present the results and the role of reoperation in biliary atresia patients in our institution. Excellent bile drainage after reoperation was obtained in 13 of 15 patients with good bile flow after the initial operation. On the contrary, good bile drainage was not obtained by reoperation in 8 of 12 cases without active bile flow after the initial operation. Cessation of bile flow after successful initial operation is an absolute indication for reoperation. Aggressive reoperations under proper indications improve the surgical results in biliary atresia patients.