Triangular cord sign in detection of biliary atresia: is it a valuable sign?

BACKGROUND: Early detection of biliary atresia (BA) has a vital role in prevention of liver cirrhosis in these patients. There are some evidences that triangular cord (TC) sign, i.e., triangular structure located cranial to the portal vein bifurcation on ultrasonographic examination, is suggestive of BA in suspected cases. The aim of this study is to evaluate and compare the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of TC sign with other methods of diagnosis such as hepatobiliary scan. METHODS: Fifty-eight infants referred to pediatric gastroenterology ward with diagnosis of infantile cholestasis from March 2004 to March 2008 were evaluated to find the cause of cholestasis. Diagnosis was made by means of history, clinical examination, hepatobiliary scan, and liver biopsy. Ultrasonographic examination was focused on presence of TC sign in patients. If the diagnosis was in favor of BA, patient was sent for direct cholangiography as a gold-standard test for confirmation of the diagnosis. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the tests were compared with golden standard. RESULTS: Among 58 infants with infantile cholestasis, BA was diagnosed and confirmed in 10 infants (17.2%). Hepatobiliary scintigraphy had 80% sensitivity, 72.9% specificity, and 74.1% accuracy. TC sign had 70% sensitivity, 95.8% specificity, and 91.3% accuracy. CONCLUSION: TC sign is more accurate than hepatobiliary scan and has acceptable sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of BA.

The role of gastrostomy in the staged operation of esophageal atresia.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study is to recommend criteria for selection of patients who benefited from the use of gastrostomy rather than emergency fistula closure during the staged operation of esophageal atresia (EA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between August 2004 and July 2006, 75 cases of EA, were consecutively operated. Nineteen out of 75 (25%) underwent routine gastrostomy because they required a type of staged operation: Group I: Five cases with pure atresia had gastrostomy and esophagostomy; Group II: Six with severe pneumonia and congenital heart disease (Waterson class C) had gastrostomy and conservative management; Group III: Eight with long gap EA (2-4 vertebras); four out of 8 cases underwent primary anastomosis with tension and the other four had delayed primary anastomosis plus primary gastrostomy. RESULTS: GI: Only three cases survived after esophageal substitution; GII: Three out of six cases with severe pneumonia (fistula size: f > 2.5 mm) underwent emergency fistula closure with only one survival, but all (f < 2.5 mm) recovered without complication, GIII: Four patients with long gap and primary anastomosis with tension developed anastomotic leakage; they required gastrostomy following the leakage, except for those with delayed primary anastomosis, and all of them recovered without early complications. CONCLUSION: All the cases with long gap, although two esophageal ends can be reached with tension, should undergo delayed primary closure with primary gastrostomy. Those were brought with Waterson class C and the fistula size greater than 2.5 mm should undergo emergency fistula closure; however, if fistula size was less than 2.5 mm, it is better to be delayed by primary gastrostomy for stabilization. In this study, we had a better outcome with gastric tube for substitution than colon interposition in infants.