BILIARY ATRESIA AND CHOLESTASIS IN NEONATOLOGY

Abstract

The importance of evaluating jaundice in newborns in maternity wards and hospitals is well known; its various forms of presentation, etiology, and treatment are essential in managing the postnatal phase. Biliary atresia consists of the obstruction of the bile ducts, preventing conjugated bilirubin from being excreted. Cholestasis is the clinical syndrome characterized by pruritus, jaundice in mucous membranes and dermis, acholic stools, and dark urine. Based on the above, this article aims to elucidate the topic of biliary atresia and its clinical manifestations in newborns. From this same perspective, the importance of discussing how cholestasis is identified and managed in neonates is evident. Therefore, the objective is to discuss what the literature says about biliary atresia in neonates, presenting the definition of this condition, its symptoms, and possible consequences.