Kasai Procedure for Biliary Atresia Steps, Complications, Success Rate, Recovery

In babies, the clogged bile ducts are bypassed to regain regular bile flow using a surgical technique known as the Kasai procedure (also called hepatoportoenterostomy or Kasai portoenterostomy). If the ducts do not develop completely during pregnancy, then the flow of bile, which is a fluid that is produced by the liver and helps in digestion, might get blocked. Bile is a fluid that aids in the digestive process.

This disorder, known as biliary atresia, can result in severe liver damage if it is allowed to go untreated for an extended period of time. In order to treat biliary atresia, doctors typically use the Kasai procedure.

Even though it does not solve the problem, it can help to alleviate the symptoms and slow down the advancement of liver injury. Even if the Kasai treatment is deemed successful, many kids who have had it will later require a liver transplant.

Kasai Procedure for Biliary Atresia Steps

In order to treat infants with biliary atresia, surgeons perform the Kasai surgery, commonly known as hepatoportoenterostomy. Bile cannot pass from the liver to the small intestine due to biliary atresia, which is characterized by clogged or missing bile ducts. Bypassing the obstructed bile ducts and establishing a new pathway between the liver and the small intestine are also objectives of the Kasai surgery.

Typically, the following are the steps that are included in the Kasai procedure:

• A general anesthetic is administered to the baby.
• After making a tiny incision in the abdominal region, the liver and the tissue that surrounds it are exposed and examined thoroughly.
• The bile ducts that are obstructed or nonexistent are located and excised.
• The jejunum is then separated from the rest of the small intestine and a small hole is created in its wall.
• In order to establish a new pathway for bile to travel from the liver to the small intestine, the liver is then joined to the jejunum's hole.
• After the incision has been closed, the newborn will be observed closely for any signs of complications.

Early intervention can increase the odds of success, hence the Kasai surgery is normally carried out within the first 2 to 3 weeks of life. Although the operation can sometimes enhance liver function and bile flow, it is not always successful in reestablishing normal bile flow. Transplanting the liver might be necessary for specific circumstances.

Kasai Procedure for Biliary Atresia Complications

The Kasai procedure involves the removal of any damaged bile ducts and the establishment of a link between the liver and the small intestine in order to make it possible for bile to drain from the liver. This surgery has the potential to alleviate some of the symptoms of biliary atresia as well as stop any additional damage to the liver. However, the operation is not a cure for the illness, and some infants may still develop difficulties after undergoing the procedure.

Infection, hemorrhage, and troubles with the link between the liver and the small intestine are all potential consequences that could arise from having the Kasai surgery done. The surgery may occasionally fail to improve bile flow, in which case the infant may need a liver transplant.

In order to identify and address any potential difficulties, it is crucial that doctors regularly monitor infants who have undergone the Kasai operation. This could entail routine blood testing, imaging exams, and liver biopsies. Many infants diagnosed with biliary atresia have the potential to live healthy and productive lives if they receive the appropriate medical care.

Kasai Procedure for Biliary Atresia Success Rate

A number of factors affect the Kasai procedure's success rate for treating biliary atresia. When the treatment is carried out early in life, before the liver has suffered substantial damage, it often has a greater success rate. The Kasai technique has an estimated 40-50% success rate overall, with the highest success rate observed in newborns treated within the 1-2 months of life. It is crucial to remember that other elements, such as the underlying cause of the biliary atresia and the infant's general health, might also have an impact on the procedure's outcome.

Kasai Procedure for Biliary Atresia Recovery

Your kid will be brought into a special area called the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) after surgery, where they will be closely watched until they come out of the anesthetic effect. It may be necessary to admit a patient to the intensive care unit (ICU), but this is less usual nowadays.

In order to give the internal wounds a better chance of healing, your newborn will not feed for the first 2 to 3 days. An intravenous infusion or nasogastric tube will be used to administer nutrition instead. The child will be watched closely to see if there is a return of normal intestinal function, which would be indicated by both flatulence and bowel movements.