Overview:
The Human body has five most vital organs which are needed for survival. They are the Brain, Heart, Kidneys, Liver, and Lungs.
The Liver is largely responsible for assisting digestion. This is done with the help of Bile, a digestive juice produced by the liver. The bile is stored in the Gall bladder located near the liver and transported to various parts of the body through tubes called “Bile Ducts.”
Commonly found in children, biliary atresia is a disease in which the bile ducts are narrow, blocked or totally absent. The bile flow is obstructed and remains stored in the Liver. This damages the liver and causes liver cirrhosis and liver fibrosis. This condition can be present since birth or can be acquired afterward.
Is Biliary Atresia Curable?
Though there is no established cure for Biliary Atresia, the only treatment is a surgical intervention called the “Kasai Procedure”. In an event of failure of the Kasai Procedure, the last option is a liver transplant.
Diagnosing Biliary Atresia:
The Symptoms of Biliary Atresia are similar to those of childhood jaundice. But the differentiating factor is that there are prolonged and recurrent periods of Jaundice infection. The child has clay-colored or white stools and pale urine. Repetitive jaundice prompts the diagnosis of Biliary Atresia which is mainly done by assessing a detailed history, physical examination along with blood tests, liver biopsy and ultrasound scans imaging.
Kasai Procedure:
This is the most preferred method of treating Biliary Atresia. In this surgery, a portion of the child’s small intestines is used to replace the blocked bile ducts and gall bladder. This will restore the normal flow of bile to the body. This procedure was first developed by a Japanese Surgeon Morio Kasai and still remains the most effective treatment though it is not curative. This is important as it controls liver fibrosis and promotes normal growth and development.
Why India For Biliary Atresia Treatment?
- India remains a destination of choice for medical tourists planning to undergo “Kasai procedure” as it is one of the most routinely performed surgeries in India.
- India provides Kasai Procedure at an affordable rate as compared to the developed world.
- The skilled and experienced surgeons that India has made the treatment cost-effective as well as efficient.
- India has a large network of Internationally Accredited Hospitals present in every part of the country.
- The absence of any waiting list for the surgery to be performed acts as the strongest facilitator for patients to choose India over most other countries.
- India has a state of the art medical technology which provides the best treatments at low costs.
- India provides excellent support services.
- The availability of translators acts as an added advantage as the international tourists can feel at home away from home as their needs are understood and taken care of.