Biliary atresia in the newborn.

A prenatal sonographic diagnosis of extrahepatic biliary atresia was made and, 76 hours after birth, operatively confirmed. A standard Kasai operation was performed, with the exception of the use of an ancillary appendiceal conduit to provide biliary drainage of an independent bile duct draining the right anterior hepatic segment. Hepatic and ductal histology were identical to those usually found in biliary atresia in a 6- to 8-week-old infant. The child is well at 16 months.