Question
My son was born premature, and his skin is yellow with high bilirubin levels. The doctor suspects it might be biliary atresia.
Answer
The prognosis for biliary atresia and the Kasai procedure is usually poor, with most cases ultimately requiring a liver transplant. However, a small number of patients fare well after the Kasai procedure and may not need a liver transplant. The actual situation is more complex and cannot be explained in just a few sentences; it is recommended that you further research relevant information online. As for whether your child has been diagnosed with biliary atresia, it needs to be assessed by an experienced pediatric surgeon based on clinical symptoms, physical examination, and specific test results to make an initial judgment. Ultimately, an abdominal laparoscopy and contrast imaging are needed for a definitive diagnosis. Neonates with biliary atresia are relatively rare.