Morio Kasai Corrects the Uncorrectable: Hepatic Portoenterostomy for Biliary Atresia

In brief

The Kasai procedure revolutionized treatment for biliary atresia, a previously fatal condition in infants. By transecting microscopic bile ductules in the porta hepatis fibrous tissue, Morio Kasai created a drainage pathway that relieves cholestatic jaundice and prevents early death from biliary cirrhosis.

• Kasai procedure (hepatic portoenterostomy) was the first effective surgical treatment for biliary atresia, previously considered fatal.
• Morio Kasai's innovation relied on transecting microscopic ductules in porta hepatis fibrous tissue to establish bile drainage.
• Before this procedure, infants with uncorrectable biliary atresia died within months from biliary cirrhosis.
• The operation relieves cholestatic jaundice by creating drainage pathways from residual microscopic bile ducts.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.