PEDIATRIC HEPATOBILIARY DISEASE

Three areas highlight the advances made in pediatric hepatobiliary dis ease. First, improved understanding of risk factors for the developmen t of hepatobiliary disease in cystic fibrosis may allow better study d esigns to assess the benefit of potential therapeutic interventions. S econd, despite improved survival of children with biliary atresia sinc e the introduction of orthotopic liver transplantation, its cause and factors determining the rate of progression of the cholangiopathy rema in elusive. Finally, the increased use of laparoscopic cholecystectomy for targeted pediatric populations, such as those with sickle cell di sease, will lead to significant benefits from reduced morbidity and co st.