Prognostic Indicators of Outcome in Biliary Atresia

Many variables interplay to influence the outcome in biliary atresia (BA). Even after successful portoenterostomy (PE) and patients are clinically stable, inflammation and fibrosis of the biliary tract can obstruct bile flow and cholestasis can progress to liver cirrhosis that will cause gradual or sudden deterioration in liver function serious enough to require liver transplantation or cause death. In this chapter, factors prognostic for jaundice disappearance (JD) and survival with the native liver (SNL) in BA will be presented and discussed according to stages of treatment for easy reference.