Q: What happens immediately after the Kasai operation?
A. Your baby will return to the ward, usually with Oxygen hood box over the upper part of your baby's body and head. This enables the nurse to control the amount of oxygen and water vapour in the air your baby breathes. This allows your baby to breathe more easily and to prevent chest infections

Sometimes the babies have to be kept in Pediatric Intensive Care Unit for a few days before shifting them to the ward.

There will be a tube running up your baby's nose and down into the stomach, this is called a naso-gastric tube. This usually drains into a clear bag or small pot and keeps the stomach empty which helps to prevent vomiting.

There will also be an intravenous infusion or "drip" into a vein usually in the back of the baby's hand.

This is used to give:

• Fluids, which are given in order to maintain the correct sugar, salt and water level in the body. Daily blood tests will be carried out in order to check these levels so that they can be adjusted accordingly. All fluid required by your baby will be given through the drip until feeding is re-established.
  
  
• Pain relieving drugs are often given through the drip or as suppositories.
  
  
• Antibiotics will be given immediately after the operation and for at least 48 hours. If your baby does not develop a high temperature and once oral feeds are started these will be often be given orally rather than through the drip.