Congenital dilatation of extrahepatic bile ducts in children. Experience in the central hospital of Hue, Vietnam.

Objective: The authors present a study of a series of cases in children with congenital dilatation of the extrahepatic bile ducts (CDEBD).

Methods: Between November 1998 and October 2002, 38 children aged between 50 days and 15 years suffering from CDEBD, admitted to the Central Hospital in Hue, Vietnam, were treated surgically with a minimum follow-up of one year.

Results: Diagnosis was based only on ultrasonography which was 100% accurate. According to Miyano's classification, 26 cases presented as cystic dilatation of the main bile duct (MBD) associated with dilatation of the intrahepatic bile ducts, while in the other 12 cases the dilatation of the MBD was of the fusiform type. The surgical treatment of choice was extensive excision of the dilatated extrahepatic bile ducts and biliary drainage according to the Roux-en-Y method in 36/38 patients. The other two patients underwent surgery for internal biliary drainage without removing the cysts. During follow-up we observed one case of pancreatitis out of the 36 patients who underwent excision of the dilatated extrahepatic bile ducts, while the two patients who had internal biliary drainage without removal of the cysts suffered from numerous attacks of cholangitis.

Conclusions: The reflux of bile in the dilated biliary tree plays an important role in the etiopathogenesis of CDEBD. Excision of the extrahepatic bile ducts and internal biliary drainage by Roux-en-Y has proved a satisfactory surgical method.