J Pediatr Surg 1975 Oct;10(5):685-91

Ongoing cirrhosis after successful porticoenterostomy in infants with biliar
atresia.

Altman RP, Chandra R, Lilly JR

Abstract
Thirty-one patients were treated by portoenterostomy procedures for extrahepatic
biliary atresia. In 20, there was unequivocal evidence of bile drainage. Eleven
of these 20 were restudied from 3 to 23 mo postoperatively by liver biopsy. The
clinical condition of most of these infants was satisfactory. Despite absence of
clinical jaundice, normal rose bengal scan, and normal liver function studies,
eight showed progressive degrees of hepatic fibrosis when compared to the
results of the biopsy taken at the time of portoenterostomy. Two patients showed
stable histology and one, after progressing on a second biopsy, had normal liver
histology on a third study. The implications of progressive hepatic
histopathology despite bile drainage are discussed.