Liver transplantation for biliary atresia: 19-year, single-center experience.

OBJECTIVES: In this study, we describe our 19-year experience with liver transplantation as the definitive treatment for congenital biliary atresia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a retrospective study of 115 liver transplants from 1984 to 2003 in 85 patients with congenital biliary atresia. We determined the impact of era of transplantation (1984-1993 and 1994-2003), recipient age (< 1 and > 1), prior portoenterostomy, and type of surgery (whole-, reduced-, and split-liver transplant) on the outcome of the transplant.

RESULTS: Overall long-term survival is 83%. Survival is greater in the more-recent era. No impact of age or prior portoenterostomy on survival was seen. Split-liver grafts showed superior graft survival, whereas reduced-liver transplants had the worst overall graft survival.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that long-term patient survival after liver transplantation for congenital biliary atresia is excellent. When required, partial liver grafts provide excellent long-term outcome.