Series of biliary tract atresia cases in a Level III hospital in North Santander

Abstract

Biliary atresia is a rare hepatobiliary disease characterised by an inflammatory and destructive process with progressive obliteration and sclerosis of the intra- and extrahepatic bile ducts, leading to obstruction of bile flow and damage to the parenchyma and intrahepatic bile ducts, with subsequent liver failure and cirrhosis. The surgical treatment of choice has been Kasai portoenterostomy; however, the vast majority of patients require liver transplantation (up to 80%) due to disease progression. To date, this pathology is not subject to mandatory reporting in Colombia, so we do not have epidemiological data despite it being one of the leading causes of TH in the first years of life in the paediatric population. We describe a series of cases including six patients diagnosed with biliary atresia at a tertiary care hospital in the department of Norte de Santander, Colombia. In our work, we highlight the critical importance of early detection strategies for timely diagnosis and treatment to reduce morbidity and mortality.