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Cost of Kasai Procedure in Major Cities of South Korea
| City | Minimum Cost (USD) | Minimum Cost (KRW) | Maximum Cost (USD) | Maximum Cost (KRW) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | USD 15000 | 20639700 | USD 30000 | 41279400 |
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A medical disease that affects infants' bile ducts is called biliary atresia. These ducts, which transport digestive secretions from the liver to the intestines, may be excessively small, obstructed, or undetectable. As a result, the liver endures significant damage from bile accumulation.
"A Kasai operation, also known as a "Hepatoportoenterostomy," is a surgical procedure in which the child's intestine is used to replace the damaged bile ducts at the base of the liver to restore bile flow from the liver."
The Kasai procedure (hepatoportoenterostomy) is performed to treat biliary atresia, a rare liver condition in infants where bile ducts are blocked or absent. The surgery helps restore bile flow from the liver to the intestine, preventing liver damage, jaundice, and eventual liver failure.
Parents should seek medical attention if their newborn has persistent jaundice beyond 2 weeks, pale or clay-colored stools, dark urine, enlarged liver, or poor weight gain. Early detection is critical, as the procedure is most effective when performed before 8 weeks of age.
Preparation includes blood tests, liver function tests, abdominal ultrasound, liver biopsy, and sometimes cholangiography (imaging of bile ducts). Parents are advised on the procedure, risks, and potential need for future liver transplant. The infant may need to fast before surgery.
The Kasai procedure involves:
- Removing the damaged or missing bile ducts outside the liver.
- Attaching a loop of the small intestine directly to the liver at the porta hepatis (the area where bile normally drains).
- This allows bile to drain directly from the liver into the intestine.
The surgery typically takes 4–6 hours. Depending on recovery and complications, the hospital stay is usually 1–2 weeks.
- Cholangitis (bile duct infection)
- Liver scarring (cirrhosis)
- Bleeding
- Portal hypertension
- Malnutrition
- Can restore bile flow and relieve jaundice
- May delay or avoid the need for liver transplantation
- Improves growth and nutrition in affected infants
Recovery involves antibiotics to prevent infection, nutritional support, and regular follow-ups to monitor liver function. Some children may need fat-soluble vitamin supplements. Long-term monitoring is necessary for signs of liver damage.
Success depends on the age at surgery and the degree of liver damage. If performed early (ideally before 8 weeks), bile flow is restored in about 30–60% of cases. However, over 50% of patients eventually require liver transplantation, usually by early childhood.
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Get Help Explore Hospitals ( 2 )
Asan Medical Centre
Seoul, South Korea
Asan Medical Centre located in Seoul, South Korea is accredited by ISO. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- 524,700 square meters is the floor area of Asan Medical Centre
- Number of beds is 2,715
- 67 operating rooms
- 11,680 outpatients
- Everday 2,427 inpatients come to the Centre
- 66,838 Sophisticated surgeries (per year)
- 1,600 physicians and surgeons
- 3,100 nurses
- Five various types of rooms ranging from suites to multi-bed rooms
International St. Mary's Hospital
Seoul, South Korea
International St. Mary's Hospital located in Seoul, South Korea is accredited by JCI. Also listed below are some of the most prominent infrastructural details:
- 3 Basements and 5 Floors Building
- International Healthcare Center
- Korean Traditional Medicine Hospital
- Hybrid Operation Theatres
- Conference Rooms
- Seminar Rooms
- Auditorium
- Intensive Care Units
- Hospice ward
- Chapel
- Emergency Medical Center
- Pathology
- Outpatient Pharmacy
- 15 Professional Treatment Centers
- 35 Clinical Departments
- Transplant Centers
- Admission & Discharge Center
- Counseling office
- Convenience Store
- Animal Laboratories
- Parking in basement
- Food court for patients & visitors
- Coffee Shop
- Free Wi-fi is available throughout the Hospital premises
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+99Process Involved for Kasai Procedure in Seoul
- Pre-Operative Evaluation: Blood tests, liver function tests, and an abdominal ultrasound for confirmation of biliary atresia with liver biopsy.
- Surgical Procedure: Anastomosis of a segment of the small bowel to the liver to restore bile flow and replace the obstructed extrahepatic bile ducts.
- Post-Operative Recovery: The patient stays in the hospital for observation, assessment of bile flow, administration of medications to prevent infection, and long-term evaluation of liver function.
- Traditional Kasai Procedure (Hepatoportoenterostomy): The blocked bile duct is removed and creates a connection between the liver and small intestine.
- Modified Kasai: Additional bile duct remnants are removed or altered to enable better bile drainage.
- Biliary atresia should be diagnosed in infants before two to three months of age.
- Symptoms are persistent jaundice in most cases, with possible pale stools, dark urine, and hepatomegaly.
- There should not be other major congenital malformations that may add surgical risks.
- Abdominal Ultrasound
- HIDA Scan (Cholescintigraphy)
- Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
- Liver Function Tests (LFTs)
- If successful, it would provide some delay or sometimes even negate the need for a liver transplant.
- Improving bile drainage decreases jaundice and aids digestion.
- If bile flow is restored, normal growth and development may proceed.
- In some cases, it may prolong a child's life for several years before a transplant is warranted.
- Pediatric Surgeon
- Pediatric Gastroenterologist
- Pediatric Hepatologist
- Neonatologist
- Nutritionist
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