Is there a place for the Kasai procedure in biliary atresia?

The survival of infants with biliary atresia has improved significantly during the past two decades as a result of modification of the Kasai hepatoportoenterostomy procedure complemented by advances in liver transplantation. Recent reports suggest that the long-term success rate of the Kasai procedure is 40%. Failures are salvaged by liver transplantation. Advances in organ preservation, the use of reduced-sized grafts, and newer immunosuppressive agents (cyclosporine, FK 506) have strongly influenced these improved results. Unfortunately, liver transplantation is associated with a high complication rate, the risk of opportunistic infection, and an increased rate of malignancy due to immunosuppression. Until immunotolerance can be achieved, the Kasai procedure remains the procedure of choice for infants with biliary atresia. Liver transplantation is a life-saving complementary procedure for patients who fail to drain bile following the Kasai procedure, who are older than 3 to 4 months of age at diagnosis, or who have advanced cirrhosis. In the current era, the overall survival should exceed 80%.