Appendix as a Biliary Conduit in Children with Biliary Atresia

Biliary conduits are constructed during operations for biliary atresia. A wide variety of options are available for biliary tract reconstruction. We present our experience of treating three children with extrahepatic biliary atresia by using appendix as biliary conduit. After mobilizing the appendix on its vascular pedicle, nonrefluxing, tunneled anastomosis was made with the 2^nd part of duodenum and the appendix. The operative procedure is simple and less time consuming. From our preliminary experience with this technique, the operation seems simple and satisfying. The postoperative cholangitis was conspicuously absent. Though the long-term efficacy still remains to be proven, the appendix should prove durable as a functional conduit.