Clinical and paraclinical characteristics before liver transplantation in children with biliary atresia at the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital
Main Article Content
Abstract
Biliary atresia is a rare hepatobiliary disorder but remains the leading cause of cirrhosis and end-stage liver failure in children. Liver transplantation is the only definitive treatment when Kasai portoenterostomy fails or the disease progresses to advanced stages. Pre-transplant clinical and paraclinical evaluations are essential to identify risk factors, optimize patient preparation, improve perioperative management, and enhance outcomes. This retrospective study included 39 pediatric patients who underwent liver transplantation at the National Children’s Hospital between January 2019 and June 2024. The results showed that 87.2% presented with jaundice, 89.7% with splenomegaly, 69.2% with collateral circulation, 35.9% with pale stools, and 25.6% with ascites. Decreased hemoglobin was found in 92.3%, thrombocytopenia in 89.7%, with a mean total bilirubin of 334.5 µmol/L and elevated liver enzymes. CT imaging revealed splenomegaly, portal hypertension, and decompensated cirrhosis. Most patients were in the stage of chronic liver failure, underscoring the importance of comprehensive pre-transplant assessment to optimize preparation and improve prognosis.
Article Details
Keywords
Biliary atresia, liver transplantation, clinical characteristics, paraclinical findings
References
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