Simple Joys in Life: Surgery Update

Monday, April 24, 2006

Surgery Update

I want to post pictures but I'm too tired. Maybe tomorrow. Anyway, Anthony's surgery has been moved from this Wednesday to next due to a conflict in my schedule. This is the last week of classes, and I would have to miss a class for the surgery. The surgeon agreed that it was easier to just schedule the surgery for next week. It'll be done early on the day of one of my finals, but I'm OK with that...I'll be prepared well ahead of time for that final.

Pictures tomorrow, I promise. Anthony has been up to a lot of fun things!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...: We are thinking of all of you and Anthony's surgery. We will keep you in our prayers for the surgery next week.; April 24, 2006 11:05 PM
Anonymous said...: Checkin' in...hugs to you!; April 25, 2006 11:16 AM
Anonymous said...: Happy Birthday Laurie!

I'm keeping Anthony in my prayers.; April 26, 2006 9:04 PM

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About Biliary Atresia

Biliary atresia is a progressive inflammatory process that begins very soon after birth. In the most common form, called extrahepatic biliary atresia, the delicate ducts outside the liver are affected first. White blood cells invade the ducts, which become damaged and may whither or completely disappear. Bile is trapped inside the liver and rapidly causes damage and scarring to the liver cells. Further scarring of the liver tissue may result in cirrhosis.

On average, there is one case of biliary atresia out of every 15,000 live births. Females are affected slightly more often than males. In the United States, approximately 300 new cases are diagnosed each year.

The cause of biliary atresia is unknown. Auto-immune mechanisms may be partly responsible for the progressive process that takes place. Recent research suggests that a viral infection in susceptible infants could result in biliary atresia. About 10% of cases have other associated congenital defects in the heart, blood vessels, intestine, or spleen.

Although the cause is uncertain, it is known that biliary atresia affects only newborns; it is not hereditary; it is not contagious; and it is not preventable.

A surgical procedure called the Kasai (hepatoportoenterostomy) can be performed in hopes of saving the liver. With the Kasai, the liver is connected directly to the small intestine, circumventing the gall bladder. The Kasai is usually successful in 1/3 of cases, while the other 2/3 result in the need for a liver transplant. Anthony's team of doctors were unable to diagnose Anthony with biliary atresia, and the Kasai was never performed. We learned after his transplant that the Kasai would never have worked, and we would have traveled the same road to transplant.

Monday, April 24, 2006

Surgery Update

3 comments:

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