Biliary atresia in newborns is a disease that is very difficult to diagnose and can only be identified through screening. Currently, there are 2 screening methods for congenital biliary atresia proposed by medical experts: testing the concentration of direct bilirubin in the serum of jaundiced children and using stool cards for screening.

Chronic biliary hepatitis in congenital biliary atresia leads to progressive biliary cirrhosis, which causes portal hypertension, which may lead to venous bleeding and ascites. The development of splenomegaly or thrombocytopenia after Kasai surgery suggests the possibility of progressive portal hypertension.

Most children with biliary atresia require liver transplantation. Biliary atresia is the most common indication for liver transplantation in infants and children. Currently, at least 60 to 80 percent of patients with biliary atresia will require liver transplantation, even with optimal management.