Biliary Atresia Treatment

What is Biliary Atresia?

Biliary atresia is a congenital liver disease mainly occurs in infancy in which a part or the entire bile ducts are missing or obliterated. This shuts off the passage of bile from the liver and allows bile to accumulate in the liver leading to cirrhosis of the liver.

Biliary Atresia – NORD

The National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) includes information about biliary atresia in its list of rare diseases and their resources. NORD was founded in support of the patient, caregiver, and health care professional communities to obtain educational, as well as practical and advocacy resources for rare diseases.

Biliary Atresia Facts

• Biliary Atresia mostly occurs in neonates and is estimated to affect one in 15,000 to 20,000 live births globally and is predominant in females.
• It is also the leading indication for liver transplant among the children who are under two years of age.
• Biliary atresia occurs during the infancy of a child and is most often seen at birth up to three weeks.
• Jaundice is one of the first symptoms and may disappear in the first two weeks but its presence is often a pointer to the diagnosis.

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Biliary Atresia Types

Biliary atresia is classified into two main types based on the location and extent of the bile duct obstruction:

Type I - Extrahepatic Biliary Atresia

This type is characterized by the exclusion of the bile ducts outside the liver (extrahepatic). This is the most prevalent sort and impacts promptly the tubes that transport bile from the liver to the small intestine – common bile duct.

Type II - Intrahepatic Biliary Atresia

This type involves the loss of formation of bile ducts within the liver tissue (intrahepatic). This form is less common and the disease involves atrophy of the bile duct in the liver.

Type III - Combined Extrahepatic and Intrahepatic Atresia

Type III is least common where the extra and intrahepatic ducts may be blocked or are absent entirely. It is a more complicated and a more severe form of GERD.

Fetal or Developmental Variants

This type of biliary atresia may be associated with other abnormalities affecting other organs in the body, which are apparent at birth as part of a congenital disorder involving multiple organs such as the heart or spleen.

Causes of Biliary Atresia

Although the precise etiology of the biliary atresia is unknown, a number of hypotheses imply genetic, immunologic, and environmental influences as potential reasons of this disease.

Here are some potential causes:

• Immune System Dysfunction
• Viral Infections
• Genetic Factors
• Abnormal Bile Duct Development
• Environmental Factors
• Congenital Abnormalities

Biliary Atresia Symptoms

The signs of biliary atresia develop during the first months of life because the bile ducts that are supposed to transport bile are either damaged or absent altogether.

Key symptoms include:

• Jaundice
• Dark Urine
• Pale or Clay Colored Stools
• Swollen Abdomen
• Poor Weight Gain and Growth
• Fatigue and Lethargy
• Irritability and Poor Feeding
• Enlarged Spleen
• Itchy Skin

Facilities and Services Offered to International Patients for Biliary Atresia

The services offered to international patients may vary depending on the hospital or clinic, but generally include the following:

• Multidisciplinary Team
• Advanced Diagnostic Services
• Surgical Treatment
• Paediatric Care
• Pre-Surgery Support
• Post-Surgery Follow-up
• Assistance with Travel and Visa
• Language Support
• Accommodation Arrangement

Biliary Atresia Radiology

Imaging has an important place in the assessment and treatment of biliary atresia. These imaging methods are applied to detect bile ducts and to determine the function of the liver, as well as to establish the presence of bile duct obstruction. Here are the key radiological modalities used in diagnosing and managing biliary atresia:

• Ultrasound
• Hepatobiliary Scintigraphy
• Cholangiography
• Liver Biopsy
• CT Scan
• Elastography
• Bile Duct Anatomy on Imaging

Biliary Atresia Treatment

Kasai Portoenterostomy (Kasai Procedure)

• In this surgery the surgeon takes out the blocked bile ducts and makes a new one, by connecting the small part of the small intestine (usually jejunum) without any loop directly to the liver. This helps the bile to go round the blocked bile ducts in order to get into the small intestine.
• It is less effective, the longer the procedure is delayed which is why it should be administered at birth or in the first 8-10 weeks of life.

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Liver Transplantation

• Liver transplant means the replacement of the diseased liver with the healthy donor liver.
• The transplant is normally done by a pediatric transplant surgeon in any specific transplant centers.

Success Rate of Biliary Atresia

• Early Kasai procedure will give the majority of the infants an opportunity to have bile flow restoration with success rates ranging from 60-80%. 
• After liver transplantation, survival statistics are generally favourable and over 90% of the people can survive the first year while 70-90% of the people can survive in the long-term.

Best Hospitals for Biliary Atresia

Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
Max Hospital, Saket
BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi

Best Doctors for Biliary Atresia

Dr. M. A Mir
Dr. Neelam Mohan
Dr. Arvind Kumar Khurana
Dr. S. Sreejith
Dr. Abhideep Chaudhary

Why Choose GetWellGo for Biliary Atresia?

GetWellGo is a healthcare provider or a healthcare service that may provide specific assistance for people diagnosed with biliary atresia and it may be also designed for foreign patients who are looking for qualified medical treatment. Of course, choosing to go for getting a treatment from GetWellGo for biliary atresia has its advantages in some ways depending on their service offer. Below are some potential reasons why international patients may choose GetWellGo for biliary atresia:

• Specialized Expertise
• Advanced Diagnostic and Treatment Technologies
• Travel Arrangements
• Accommodation and Visa Support
• Language Support
• Affordable Treatment