Surgical outcome and etiologic heterogeneity of infants with biliary atresia who received Kasai operation less than 60 days after birth: A retrospective study

This study aimed to analyze the impact of etiologic heterogeneity and operation age on prognosis of infants with biliary atresia (BA) who received Kasai operation prior to 60 days of age. From 2004 to 2010, 158 infants received Kasai operation before turning 60 days old. According to Davenport 2012 classifications, 4 groups of BA were defined: cystic BA, syndrome BA, and associated malformation, cytomegalovirus (CMV)-associated BA, and isolated BA. Native (autologous) liver survival rates and incidence of cholangitis 2 years after operation, as well as jaundice clearance rates 3 months after operation, were recorded. Although infants who received the operation between 51 and 60 days of age had a better jaundice clearance 3 months after operation and lower incidence of cholangitis as compared with those under 40 or between 41 and 50 days of age, there was no significant difference in survival rates. Among types of BA, infants with cystic BA had the best prognosis. In the syndrome BA and associated malformations group, as well as CMV-associated group, infants who received the operation early (<40 days of age) had a worse outcome as compared with those who received the operation between 41 and 50 days or 51 and 60 days of age. Both clinical etiologic heterogeneity and operation age may influence BA prognosis.