Post Kasai and Need for Liver Transplant

[manhealth]

My 5month old son undergone Kasai at 81days and Direct Bilirubin was around 13mgdl and after 2months of Kasai it is 4.7mgdl. GGT was around 3000 earlier and come down around 1400 now. His stool is pigmented yellow, orange and sometimes pale yellow. Surgeon told liver was hard while kasai but all Ultrasound reports show normal liver. He is gaining weight and height very well and very active boy. But Surgeon still says he might need Liver transplant in future or sometimes do not need LT. Please suggest which would be really helpful..

[emmaagarner]

Usually all kasais stop working at some point. When the kasai was done at 81 days old, damage was done to the liver before it was corrected. And a GGT of 1400 is higher than normal limits and shows that. Some people live to their 20s without needing a liver transplant, and some even to their 30s, and even more rarely to their 40s. They can really never tell you when they think your baby will need a liver transplant until the kasai has stopped working. Also, do not be afraid of liver transplant!

[manhealth in reply to emmaagarner]

Thanks emmaagarner for all the information ! It really helps.. Since my son undergone decompressive craniectomy due to hyperbilli 13mgdl and Vitamin K deficiency, He had to recover before doing Kasai. By God's grace he responded well and recovered quick. He was put on Phenobarbitone medics and I learnt this medic can also elevate GGT. Praying God for my son recovery..

[emmaagarner in reply to manhealth]

He sounds like hes doing well!! The GGT is still quite high though. Basically all biliary atresia babies have some degree of cirrhosis. Don’t be afraid of liver transplant if it comes to that. Majority of BA kids need liver transplants at a young age. If it does happen, look into living donor as quickly as you can and start the process.

[manhealth in reply to emmaagarner]

Thank you very much emmaagarner for the heads up!

[anonymousdady]

Most of the kids after Kasai surgery need a liver transplant in future. Doctors generally observe the child carefully and decide as per the liver function tests.