Biliary atresia (BA) or extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) is a disorder of infants in which there is an obliteration or discontinuity of the extrahepatic (outside of the liver) biliary system, resulting in obstruction of bile flow.
The incidence of EHBA is 1 in 10,000 to 13,000 newborns. The disorder occurs more often in girls than boys, and 20-30% of cases area ssociated with developmental abnormalities of the heart, digestive tract, or spleen (polysplenia [more than one spleen] or asplenia [no spleen]) or other abnormalities. Between 400-600 new cases of BA are encountered in the United States every year.
Because early intervention is so important, any infant older than 14 days with jaundice needs to be evaluated. Surgery is usually required to repair damage or malformations to promote normal flow of bile. Liver transplant may be required in severe cases.
This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:
Combined pure esophageal atresia, duodenal atresia, biliary atresia, and pancreatic ductal atresia: prenatal diagnostic features and review of the literature. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2000
Biliary atresia: pathogenesis and treatment. Seminars in Liver Disease. 1998
Biliary atresia. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 1998
Biliary atresia and biliary cysts. Baillieres Clinical Gastroenterology. 1997
Biliary atresia. Current Opinion in Pediatrics. 1997
Past and future of biliary atresia. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2000
Biliary atresia: should all patients undergo a portoenterostomy?. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 1997
Initial response to portoenterostomy determines long-term outcome in patients with biliary atresia. Journal of Pediatric Surgery. 2000
Biliary atresia: which factors predict the success of a Kasai operation? An analysis of 36 patients. European Journal of Medical Research. 2000
Reappraisal of the role of the bilioenteric conduit in the pathogenesis of postoperative cholangitis. Pediatric Surgery International. 2000
MediFocus.com understands that consumers who are facing serious medical issues need access to credible, up-to-date medical information to help them make informed health-care decisions. That's why we've developed the MediFocus Guides...the most advanced and trustworthy patient research guides for over 200 chronic and life-threatening conditions. Each MediFocus Guide includes a detailed overview of the condition including information about diagnosis, treatment options, cutting-edge research, and new developments; excerpts of important journal articles from the current medical literature focusing on standard treatments and treatment options; a directory of leading authors and medical institutions who specialize in the treatment of the condition; and a listing of organizations and support groups where you can obtain additional information about the illness.
MediFocus Guides are the perfect solution for consumers who wish to gain an in-depth understanding of their medical issue and avail themselves of the same type of professional level medical information that is used by physicians and other health-care professionals to help then in the clinical decision making process.
