Cholangitis associated with cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts after antireflux valve construction in biliary atresia

An intussusception-type antireflux valve (ARV) has been introduced to preve nt postoperative ascending cholangitis in the management of biliary atresia (BA). We investigated the characteristics of cholangitis in the management of BA using the ARV in 38 patients who had undergone an operation at our i nstitution; 29 underwent ARV construction at the same time as portenterosto my (PEO) or hepaticojejunostomy. One patient underwent ARV construction for refractory cholangitis with cystic dilatation of the intrahepatic bile duc ts (CDIB) long after the PEG. Five of 29 patients who had ARV construction developed CDIB complicated by severe, refractory cholangitis. One or two ep isodes of mild cholangitis were observed in 5 (20.8%) of 24 patients who di d not show CDIB. An ARV created for postoperative recurrent cholangitis ass ociated with CDIB was ineffective. Preoperative cholangitis associated with a type I choledochal cyst and CDIB was observed in 1 patient. In conclusio n, the ARV was effective in preventing refractory cholangitis without CDIB, but ineffective in preventing cholangitis with CDIB. Our findings suggest that CDIB resulting from the ongoing process of BA could be a potential tar get of bacterial infection through other routes than bilioenteric reflux.