How can biliary atresia be treated?
The initial treatment for biliary atresia is a surgical operation called Kasai procedure after the Japanese Surgeon who pioneered the operation. The aim of the Kasai procedure is to allow bile to drain from the liver into the gut. This is a major operation involving removal of the affected bile ducts that are outside the liver, and making an alternative system of drainage of bile from the liver into the intestines by making a "bile duct like tube" by restructuring the small intestines.

Babies with prolonged jaundice and suspected of having a Liver Disease such as biliary atresia, will often need special feeds. The hospital Dietitian will advise. There are a number of special milks available for babies suffering from Liver Disease. These milks have fats, which are more easily digested by babies with Liver Disease. Extra calories may also be added to the feeds in the form of powders to help your baby maintain an adequate weight gain. Most babies with biliary atresia are unable to gain weight satisfactorily on breast milk alone. In these cases the Dietitian will advise how to combine breast and bottle-feeding.

The doctor may prescribe extra vitamins as babies with prolonged jaundice also have problems absorbing certain vitamins.



What happens before the operation?
When any operation is required some preparation is necessary. Blood tests will be done so that your baby’s blood group can be identified in case there is a need to give blood to your baby before, during or after surgery. Your baby may require special medicines to prepare the gut for surgery.

Your baby may also require some feeds to be replaced by special non-milk feeds and/or some fluids to be given into the vein by means of drip. The nurses on the ward will tell you what you should give and when.