Stretching the Limit of Native Liver Survival in Biliary Atresia After Kasai Portoenterostomy – a 37-year Territory-wide Study

ObjectiveWe present a 37 years’ experience in the management of biliary atresia (BA) and discuss long-term complications after Kasai portoenterostomy (KPE).MethodsA retrospective territory-wide study from 1980 to 2017 on 231 patients with open KPE from three tertiary paediatric surgical centres was performed. The jaundice clearance (JC) rate, native liver survival (NLS) rate and complications were analyzed.ResultsThe mean follow up period was 15.4 +/- 6.2 years. Over 60% of patients remained JC within 2 years after KPE. Seventy patients (30.3%) received liver transplant (LT) at a median age of 6.2 years (range: 0.5 to 25 years). The NLS rates at 10, 20 and 30 years were 70.7%, 61.5% and 53.0% respectively with no significant change over the study period. The median bilirubin level among all native liver survivors (n=153) was 24 µmol/L (2 to 162 µmol/L). Portal hypertension (PHT) and recurrent cholangitis were found in 51.6% and 27.5% of them respectively.ConclusionWith a vigilant follow up program, more than 60% of BA patients could remain stable with the disease and achieve long term survival without LT. Although portal hypertension and recurrent cholangitis are common, they do not need to be the indications for LT if managed properly.