Long-term follow-up for anicteric survival with native liver after redo Kasai: a first report

Biochemical Evaluation of Laparoscopic Portoenterostomy for Treating Biliary Atresia and Redo for Failed Portoenterostomy

Background: Postoperative outcomes of portoenterostomy (PE) and redo-PE were evaluated using selected biochemical markers (SBM) and biochemical status categories (BSC). Methods: Subjects were 70 consecutive PE performed for biliary atresia. SBM were aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT), cholinesterase (ChE), and platelet count (PLT) assessed at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months, and thence, annually for a maximum of 10 years. BSC were as follows: all SBM normal (N-SBM), normal AST/ALT (N-SLT), normal ChE (N-ChE), normal PC (N-PLT), all abnormal (A-SBM), abnormal AST/ALT (A-SLT), abnormal ChE (A-ChE), and abnormal PC (A-PLT). Subjects achieving jaundice clearance (JC) and surviving with native livers (SNL) also had gamma glutamyl transpeptidase assessed. Redo-PE indicated for failed PE was assessed postoperatively using the same SBM/BSC protocol. Results: PE were laparoscopic (LPE; n = 40) or open (OPE; n = 30). Mean age/weight at PE and duration of follow-up were similar. For JC, LPE = 34/40 (85.0%) and OPE = 22/30 (73.3%); P = .23. For SNL, LPE = 29/40 (72.5%) and OPE = 16/30 (53.3%); P = .10. LPE and OPE were similar for SBM/BSC, except for a single significant increase in ALT in OPE at 6 months. Redo-PE was performed 17-180 days (mean 67.1 days) after primary PE. AST was significantly increased at the last preredo assessment 3 months after primary PE; P < .05. After redo, AST decreased and SBM/BSC results were equivalent to nonredo subjects. Conclusion: Postoperative biochemical data for all PE cases were comparable; redo-PE would appear to be viable for restoring SBM, and AST could be valuable as a single marker of deterioration in redo cases.

Experience of treating biliary atresia with laparoscopic-modified Kasai and laparoscopic conventional Kasai: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Complete mobilization of the left and right portal veins had been seldom utilized in the laparoscopic Kasai procedures. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of the key technique in detail.

METHODS

A total of 82 patients with type III biliary atresia were operated by laparoscopic Kasai at our hospital during January 2012 to October 2019. Forty-two patients underwent modified laparoscopic Kasai (group 1), and 40 patients of control group underwent general laparoscopic Kasai (group 2). The clinical data between the two groups were compared.

RESULTS

The early clearance of jaundice was significantly higher for group 1 (88.1%) versus group 2 (68.4%) (P < 0.05), the incidence of repeated cholangitis was significantly lower in group 1 (11.9%) versus group 2 (31.6%) (P < 0.05). The native liver survival rate was (85.7%) in group1 versus in group 2 (65.8%) (P < 0.05). In addition, there were no significant differences regarding the resumption oral intake and the post-operative hospital stay in the two groups.

CONCLUSION

The key technique of the complete mobilization of the left and right portal veins would improve the outcome of biliary atresia treated by laparoscopic Kasai.

Effect of microscopy-assisted portoenterostomy (MAPE) for biliary atresia

PURPOSE

Portoenterostomy (PE) is the standard treatment for biliary atresia (BA). However, micro-bile ducts are difficult to identify with surgical loupes and dissect systematically. We report the effects of our attempts to dissect hilar tissue using a surgical microscope.

METHODS

Microscopy-assisted portoenterostomy (MAPE) was initiated in 2014. Patients born between 2000 and 2013 who underwent PE until day 70 without a surgical microscope for BA were gathered as historical control. MAPE in re-do PE cases (Re-MAPE) was evaluated in the same manner.

RESULTS

Ten patients underwent MAPE for BA during the study period. 17 patients in the conventional PE group were gathered. In the MAPE group, the jaundice clearance rate was 80%, compared with 53% in the conventional PE group. Re-MAPE was performed in four patients, who had a jaundice clearance rate of 75%, essentially identical to the rate with initial MAPE. At age 4 years, the native liver survival rate was 58% in the MAPE group and 38% in the conventional PE group. The native liver survival rate in the Re-MAPE group was 75%.

CONCLUSION

MAPE is useful for sharing the surgical field during open PE in patients with BA. It may improve the rate of jaundice clearance.

Significance and indications for reoperative portoenterostomy in biliary atresia in light of long-term outcome

BACKGROUND

Among biliary atresia (BA) patients undergoing revision following failed portoenterostomy, long-term native liver survival (NLS), physical condition, and indications for revision were explored.

METHODS

From 1977-2015, 33 of 95 BA patients (35%) at our institution underwent revision. Ten- and 20-year NLS rates (NLSRs) and biochemical statuses of 20-year-old native liver survivors were compared between post-portoenterostomy BA patients with and without history of revision. Factors associated with 10-year NLS following revision and optimal cut-offs for potential predictors were analyzed.

RESULTS

Overall 10- and 20-year NLSRs were 57% and 54%, respectively. Ten- and 20-year NLSRs were 49% and 45% in the revision group and 63% and 61% in the non-revision group, respectively. Among 20-year-old native liver survivors, differences in admission rates between ages 10-20 years were not significant for cholangitis (revision, 46%; non-revision, 40%; P = 0.30) or portal hypertension (revision, 38%; non-revision, 15%; P = 0.21). Differences in hepatobiliary function-associated blood tests between these groups at 20 years old were only significant for aspartate aminotransferase (P = 0.02) and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (P = 0.047). Among potential predictors of 10-year NLS that we investigated, rate of change in total bilirubin (TB) over the first month post-portoenterostomy was best (P = 0.0019), and the receiver operating characteristic curve revealed an optimal cut-off for this first-month change in TB of -3.7 mg/dl (area under the curve, 0.85; sensitivity, 0.79; specificity, 0.83).

CONCLUSIONS

In approximately half of the patients, revision provided 10- and 20-year NLS, and biochemical status at 20 years old was comparable across revision and non-revision patients. Rate of change in TB during the first month post-portoenterostomy offers a sensitive predictor of revision.

Biliary atresia: unity in diversity

Biliary atresia (BA) is a rare disease of unknown origin and unsatisfying outcome. Single, multicenter and national evaluations of epidemiological and outcome data on BA have been periodically published over the course of decades. However, the diversity of the registered parameters and outcome measures impede comparability and cumulative analysis of these very worthwhile studies. Taking into account the fact that BA is a good example of translational research and transition of patients from pediatric surgery and hepatology to transplant surgery and hepatology in general, the interdisciplinary community should make every effort to develop a common platform upon which further activities are conducted. Extending this topic to BA-related diseases might increase the acceptance of research studies and enhance the effectiveness of any recommendations outlined therein. The use of the Internet-based communication platform and registry on http://www.bard-online.com represents the first step in this direction, and the database should be viewed as a helpful tool that guides further activities.

Review of redo-Kasai portoenterostomy for biliary atresia in the transition to the liver transplantation era

Portoenterostomy (PE) is the standard therapy for biliary atresia (BA). PE offers the chance of survival to children with BA. PE was the ultimate therapeutic modality for BA before liver transplantation (LT) was available. Failure of biliary drainage with PE was almost invariably fatal in children with BA. In such cases, redo-PE was performed to salvage patients following PE failure. PE remains the standard first treatment for BA despite the availability of LT. Further, redo-PE is also performed in a limited number of cases despite the development of LT as an alternative means of PE. However, there is concern that redo-PE increases morbidity at the time of subsequent LT. Laparoscopic redo-PE has recently been described. Laparoscopic redo-PE is expected to reduce complications of LT by preventing abdominal adhesion associated with repetitive surgery. In the present article, the future utility of redo-PE and the history of its changing roles are reviewed.