This paper includes our 9-year experience of 34 infants with biliary atresia with introduction of a new non-invasive diagnostic method, that is, ultrasonographic "triangular cord" (TC) sign. TC sign was defined as visualization of a triangular or a band-like echogenicity just cranial to the portal vein. Ultrasonographic TC sign seemed to be a simple, non-invasive, time-saving and useful tool in the diagnosis of biliary atresia, representing 84% sensitivity. Active bile excretion was restored in 90% of the patients who were treated between 31-60days, 78% of those between 61-90 days, and 33% of those being 91days or older. The incidence of postoperative cholangitis was 36%, and construction of antireflux valve in the Roux-en -Y loop did not affect the incidence of postoperative cholangitis (P=0.18). As for the surgical outcome, of 34 infants with biliary atresia, 23 (68%) are alive for 2-102 months period, and 12 of them are alive for more than 5 years . Five-year estimate survival by Kaplan-Meier method was 66 %.
