Patient's question:
Premature infant born at 35 weeks weighing 1950g. Currently 42 days old. 10 days ago, jaundice was discovered and the infant was hospitalized. The direct bilirubin level was 4.140. After 10 days of treatment, the direct bilirubin level dropped to 40.9, and the indirect bilirubin level dropped to 35. The doctor suspects biliary atresia and wants to perform a laparoscopic exploration. Is the decrease in bilirubin levels due to biliary atresia?Doctor's answer:
Direct bilirubin elevation indicates abnormal bilirubin metabolism. This issue occurs in areas with poor excretion. Immunoglobulin can enhance children's immunity. Traditional Chinese medicine is generally used as a liver-protective agent. It may be a case of incomplete biliary atresia in children, which could potentially resolve on its own as the child grows. Enhancing children's immunity may exceed normal levels. If there is biliary atresia, direct bilirubin cannot be reduced, but auxiliary test results are for reference only and may not be particularly accurate. It is recommended to recheck bilirubin levels.