Abstract/Text: The Registry provides information about 904 children with biliary atresia from more than 100 institutions. There was a 1.4 to 1 female predominance; racial distribution was 62% caucasian, 20% black, 11% Hispanic, 4.2% asian, and 1.5% American Indian. Eight hundred sixteen (90%) underwent corrective surgery (median age at operation, 69 days). Intraoperatively, 70% had totally obliterated extrahepatic bile ducts, 22% had patency of the gallbladder and distal common duct, whereas only 8% had "correctable" biliary atresia (proximal duct patency). A variety of reconstructions were used, but the majority of patients had a Roux-en-Y portoenterostomy with or without exteriorization. Follow-up was available for 670 children (74%) with average length of follow-up of 5 years (range, 1 to 16 years). Five-year actuarial survival was 48% following Kasai's operation, but was less than 10% (at 3 years) if no operative correction was done. Survival was unaffected by sex, type of reconstruction, or cholangitis. Predictors of a bad outcome were (1) caucasian race; (2) operative age greater than 60 days; (3) presence of cirrhosis at initial biopsy; (4) totally nonpatent extrahepatic ducts; (5) absent ducts at the level of transection in the liver hilus; and (6) subsequent development of varices or ascites. Identification of factors predictive of the ultimate outcome provide a basis for either continued efforts with management of Kasai's operation or for early referral for liver transplantation.

Abstract/Text: OBJECTIVE: To determine the outcomes of Canadian children with biliary atresia.
STUDY DESIGN: Health records of infants born in Canada between January 1, 1985 and December 31, 1995 (ERA I) and between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2002 (ERA II) who were diagnosed with biliary atresia at a university center were reviewed.
RESULTS: 349 patients were identified. Median patient age at time of the Kasai operation was 55 days. Median age at last follow-up was 70 months. The 4-year patient survival rate was 81% (ERA I = 74%; ERA II = 82%; P = not significant [NS]). Kaplan-Meier survival curves for patients undergoing the Kasai operation at age < or = 30, 31 to 90, and > 90 days showed 49%, 36%, and 23%, respectively, were alive with their native liver at 4 years (P < .0001). This difference continued through 10 years. The 2- and 4-year post-Kasai operation native liver survival rates were 47% and 35% for ERA I and 46% and 39% for ERA II (P = NS). A total of 210 patients (60%) underwent liver transplantation; the 4-year transplantation survival rate was 82% (ERA I = 83%, ERA II = 82%; P = NS).
CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest outcome series of North American children with biliary atresia at a time when liver transplantation was available. Results in each era were similar. Late referral remains problematic; policies to ensure timely diagnosis are required. Nevertheless, outcomes in Canada are comparable to those reported elsewhere.