Question
My son is a premature baby, and his skin is yellow with elevated bilirubin levels. The doctor suspects it might be biliary atresia.
Answer
The prognosis for biliary atresia and the Kasai procedure is generally not favorable, with most cases eventually requiring liver transplantation. However, in some cases, the outcome of the Kasai procedure can be better, and liver transplantation may not be necessary. The situation is complex and cannot be explained in a few sentences; it is recommended that you do more research online. As for whether your child has been diagnosed with biliary atresia, it requires a combination of clinical symptoms, physical examination, and some test results to be judged by an experienced pediatric specialist doctor to have a general estimate. Ultimately, an abdominal laparoscopic exploration and contrast study is needed to make a definitive diagnosis. Premature babies are less likely to have biliary atresia issues.