[Surgical treatment of congenital obstructive biliary disease (author's transl)]

The results of surgical treatment of bile duct atresia and hypoplasia are disappointing; no improval of long-term survival could be observed. With Kasai's hepato-jejuno-enterostomy which is not suited for the management of complete atresia. A new surgical procedure was evaluated in animal experimentation and in some patients: the bile was drained through the lymph system of the liver into the intestinal tract. Morphology, surgical procedure and indications as pertinent to this new approach are described and discussed. On the basis of the data available at present no conclusions can as yet be drawn, if the good results obtained in animal experimentation will be achieved in man as well. Surgical treatment of choledochus cysts is discussed. The procedure chosen depends upon the site of the cyst. Surgery is aimed at extirpation of the cyst and reconstruction of bile flow through the papilla Vateri. Curative and palliative procedures are discussed.