The outcome of laparoscopic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia in children

There were only a few reports on laparoscopic portoenterostomy for biliary atresia in children. We report our experience on laparoscopic Kasai operation for biliary atresia. A retrospective review of all children who had biliary atresia underwent laparoscopic portoenterostomy from January 2002 to September 2006 were included and analyzed. Sixteen children (five boys and eleven girls) with a mean age of 66 days (range 47-106 days) at operation were included in this study. All patients had type III biliary atresia. There was no conversion to open procedure. The operative time ranged from 193 to 435 min (mean 292 min). At a median follow-up of 72 months (range 33-89 months), eight patients were free of jaundice with bilirubin level < 20 mu mol/L and did not require liver transplantation. Seven patients underwent liver transplantation. One patient who had persistent elevated bilirubin defaulted follow-up. One patient complicated with volvulus of intestine post-operatively. All patients survived except one patient who had combined liver and intestine transplantation. Laparoscopic portoenterostomy in children with biliary atresia is technically feasible. 50% of children who had type III biliary atresia were free of jaundice and did not require liver transplantation. A longer follow-up is required to assess the long-term outcome.