The treatment of biliary atresia in Europe 1969-1995

European studies of biliary atresia have suggested that the aetiology is heterogeneous. Histological studies of the liver and biliary remnants excised at portoenterostomy have failed to identify any prognostic features except for the size of bile ductules in the porta hepatis. Most of the major series have confirmed that there is a relationship between age at portoenterostomy and clearance of jaundice which has been achieved in more than 67% of infants under 10 weeks of age. Cholangitis reduced survival and bleeding from esophageal varices has occurred in more than 19% of long-term survivors. The 5-year jaundice-free survival rate after portoenterostomy is 37% and the 10 year rate is 18%. It is predicted that these survival rates will improve. Orthotopic transplantation now results in long-term survival in 70% of patients who fail the portoenterostomy operation and long-term survival is now achieved in a majority of children born with biliary atresia.