Portagen Formula

Biliary atresia is a rare gastro-intestinal tract. Biliary atresia is characterized by obliteration or discontinuity of the extrahepatic biliary system, resulting from obstruction to the flow of bile. Bile is a yellow-green fluid in the liver and stored in the gallbladder. The disorder is the most common cause of surgically curable cholestatic encountered during the neonatal period. About one in 10,000 to 20,000 babies in the United States are affected each year. Biliary atresia seems to affect girls more often than boys. Asians and African Americans are more frequently affected than Caucasians.

It does not appear to be related to drugs or vaccines administered immediately before or during pregnancy. Symptoms of the disease appear or develop two to eight weeks after birth. Symptoms of the disease include jaundice, a yellowing of the skin and eyes due to a very high level of bilirubin (bile pigment) in the bloodstream.Jaundice caused by an immature liver is common in newborns. It usually disappears in the first week to 10 days of life. dark urine caused by the accumulation of bilirubin (a breakdown product of hemoglobin) in blood. Bilirubin is then filtered by the kidneys and excreted in urine.

Weight loss and irritability develop when the level of jaundice increases. Biliary Atresia Extrahepatic occurs more frequently in females than in males. Biliary atresia causes liver damage and affects numerous important processes that enable the body to function normally. Biliary atresia is an irreversible problem. There are no drugs that can be given to unblock the bile ducts or to encourage new bile ducts to grow where there was none before. Two different operations that can be done that will allow the child with biliary atresia to live longer and better quality of life.

operation Kasai portoenterostomy connects the bile drainage from the liver directly to the intestine. It is most effective when done before a baby is 8 weeks. The Kasai procedure is helpful because it can allow a child to grow up and wait in fairly good health for several years. Cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, usually occurs in spite of a successful Kasai procedure. A liver transplant operation removes the damaged liver and replaces it with a new liver from a donor. MCT (medium chain triglycerides) oil or infant formula with MCT (or Portagen Pregestimil) may be recommended to add calories to help your child grow.