Related Experiment Videos
Idiopathic common bile duct perforation: a case report
M M Tiou1, S C Huang, S C Huang
1Department of Pediatrics, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Insights
Idiopathic bile duct perforation is rare in infants. This case highlights diagnosis and successful surgical treatment in a young child presenting with jaundice and ascites.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Neonatal Medicine
Background:
- Spontaneous or idiopathic perforation of the bile duct (IPBD) is an uncommon condition in neonates and infants.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes.
Observation:
- A 1-year-5-month-old female presented with abdominal distension and jaundice.
- The patient had a history of bacterial peritonitis treated with antibiotics.
- Bilious ascites were detected via abdominal tapping, indicating biliary tree perforation.
Findings:
- Scintigraphy confirmed the biliary tree perforation.
- The child underwent successful surgical intervention.
- The patient recovered uneventfully after surgery.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering IPBD in infants with unexplained jaundice and ascites.
- Prompt diagnosis using imaging studies like scintigraphy is vital.
- Surgical management offers a favorable prognosis for IPBD in pediatric patients.
Abstract:
Spontaneous or idiopathic perforation of the bile duct (IPBD) in neonates and infants is a rare disease. An 1-year-5-month-old female child admitted with progressive abdominal distension and generalized jaundice. She had previously been treated for bacterial peritonitis at another hospital by using strong antibiotics. Abdominal tapping revealed bilious ascites suggesting a possible biliary tree perforation and was later confirmed by the scintigraphy study. She was subsequently operated and recovered uneventfully. The mode of presentation, diagnosis and treatment are described and the literature reviewed.