Treatments

Treatments

Consult with your doctor for treatments and to setup a plan.

Some treatment options used pre and post surgery is Ursodiol (ursodeoxycholic Acid) a synthetic bear bile. Surgery is a likely option depending on age, size and location of cysts.

Due to reported risk of malignancy in type 1 choledochal cysts ranging from 2.5-28%. Children with choledochal cysts are typically treated surgically to remove them, either by an open procedure or laparoscopically. Both procedures are performed in the operating room under general anesthesia. In both types of surgery for choledochal cysts, the cyst is removed and a reconstruction of the biliary system is frequently required using a section of intestine.

Treatment involves removing a lobe of the liver if the choledochal cysts are intrahepatic, or part of the duct outside of the liver if the cysts are located there and biliary reconstruction using a piece of intestine, usually requiring a hepaticojejunostomy. Rarely, reconstruction above the confluence of the left and right hepatic ducts is necessary.

Without surgery, children with choledochal cysts have an ongoing risk of other problems:

• biliary obstruction
• infection of the ducts
• jaundice
• cirrhosis

In adulthood, choledochal cysts can become cancerous if left untreated.

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