What Causes Biliary Atresia?

Bile Duct Inflammation And Blockage

Bile duct inflammation and blockage is the primary cause of biliary atresia. In patients with both forms of biliary atresia, the bile duct becomes narrowed and blocked, and bile cannot flow properly from the liver to the intestine. When this happens, the bile accumulates in the liver instead, and this causes scarring and other damage. Eventually, the bile duct blockage can cause cirrhosis of the liver. Patients with a bile duct blockage often have trouble getting adequate nutrition, and they may need to be fed through a nasogastric tube. Doctors can detect a bile duct blockage through imaging studies such as HIDA and DISIDA scans. Using an injection of radioactive dye, these tests produce images that show if bile can flow from the liver into the gallbladder and intestines. A cholangiogram can also be used for this purpose. Cholangiograms are x-rays carried out by surgeons in the operating room. These studies help show if the bile ducts that carry bile away from the liver are blocked. If surgeons determine a blockage is present, they will proceed with exploratory surgery to confirm biliary atresia. The Kasai procedure can be used to restore bile flow to blocked ducts, and a liver transplant may be necessary if this is unsuccessful.

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