Factors predicting surgical difficulties in congenital biliary dilatation in pediatric patients

Background The effects of disease classification and the patient’s preoperative condition on the difficulty of performing a laparotomy for pediatric congenital biliary dilatation (CBD) have not been fully elucidated. Methods The present study retrospectively analyzed 46 pediatric CBD laparotomies performed at the study center between March 2010 and December 2021 and predictors of operative time. The patients were separated into a short operative time group (SOT) (≤ 360 min, n = 27) and a long operative time group (LOT) (> 360 min, n = 19). Results The preoperative AST and ALT values were higher, and the bile duct anastomosis diameter was larger, in the LOT. Correlation analysis demonstrated that the maximum cyst diameter, preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, AST, ALT, AMY, and bile duct anastomosis diameter correlated positively with operative time. Multivariate analysis identified the maximal cyst diameter, preoperative AST, and bile duct anastomosis diameter as significant factors affecting surgical time. Postoperatively, intrapancreatic stones and paralytic ileus were observed in one patient each in the SOT, and mild bile leakage was observed in one patient in the LOT. Conclusions The maximum cyst diameter, preoperative AST, and bile duct anastomosis diameter have the potential to predict the difficulty of performing a pediatric CBD laparotomy.