Can congenital biliary atresia be detected during prenatal examination?

It is usually difficult to detect congenital biliary atresia in newborns during prenatal examinations, but some indirect indicators can be used for preliminary screening. Ultrasound examinations are mainly used to observe fetal development during prenatal examinations, but the diagnosis of biliary atresia relies more on clinical manifestations and examinations after birth.

1. Screening during prenatal check-up

Ultrasound examinations during prenatal checkups focus on fetal organ development and structural abnormalities, but the early manifestations of biliary atresia are not obvious and difficult to detect directly through conventional ultrasound. If the fetus has an enlarged liver, gallbladder abnormalities, or polyhydramnios, it may indicate a bile duct problem, but it cannot be confirmed as biliary atresia.

2. Diagnosis after birth

After the birth of a newborn, typical symptoms of biliary atresia include persistent jaundice, light gray stool, and darker urine. Doctors will further confirm the diagnosis through blood tests, ultrasound, MRI, or cholangiography. Early diagnosis is crucial for treatment, and delay may lead to liver damage or even cirrhosis.

3. Treatment methods

Treatment of biliary atresia mainly includes surgery and drug therapy.

Surgical treatment: Kasai surgery is the preferred method, which reconstructs the bile duct to drain bile and delay the deterioration of liver function.

Drug treatment: Use choleretic drugs such as ursodeoxycholic acid and anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids as adjuvant treatment.

Liver transplantation: Liver transplantation is the final solution for children whose liver function is severely damaged or whose Kasai surgery is ineffective.

4. Prevention and care

Although biliary atresia cannot be completely prevented, regular prenatal checkups during pregnancy and close observation of newborn symptoms after birth can help detect it early. Parents should pay attention to changes in jaundice, stool color, and weight gain in newborns and seek medical attention in a timely manner.

Early diagnosis and treatment of congenital biliary atresia in newborns is crucial to prognosis. Although it is difficult to detect directly during prenatal examinations, it can be diagnosed in time after birth through symptom observation and medical examinations. Parents should pay close attention to the health of newborns and cooperate with doctors for standardized treatment to improve the quality of life and survival rate of children.