[Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography in diagnosis of biliary atresia]

The differential diagnosis between neonatal hepatitis and biliary atresia in the newborn is difficult and has therapeutic implications. Despite important advances in diagnostic tools, 10-20% of newborns with jaundice remain without definitive diagnosis. In recent years ERCP has played a decisive role in achieving definitive anatomic diagnosis, thus avoiding unnecessary exploratory laparotomy. We present our experience with ERCP using a pediatric duodenoscope in 18 newborns with inconclusive diagnoses of neonatal cholestasis.