Laparoscopic Kasai Procedure in India

In the laparoscopic approach, the surgeon inserts tiny instruments and a camera through small cuts in the baby's abdomen. The scarred bile duct remnant is removed and a loop of intestine joined to the liver, as in open surgery. Some steps may be done through the navel to limit scarring.

The appeal is smaller scars and fewer adhesions (internal scar tissue), which may help if a liver transplant is needed later. However, several studies have raised concerns that bile drainage may not be as good as with the open operation. Choosing a surgeon with dedicated experience is essential.

How this approach differs

Unlike the open Kasai with a cut under the ribs, this approach uses three or four small ports, giving smaller scars and possibly fewer adhesions before any later transplant. Precise stitching to the liver is technically demanding laparoscopically, and some studies report lower bile drainage rates than open surgery. It is therefore offered only at a few centres with dedicated experience. Families should discuss evidence and surgeon results openly.

• Kasai Procedure (Biliary Atresia)Standard approach

Who needs laparoscopic kasai procedure

• Babies with confirmed biliary atresia who are referred early
• Infants at centres with established laparoscopic Kasai experience
• Families who have discussed the open versus keyhole evidence with the surgeon
• Babies without previous abdominal surgery or major associated anomalies

How it is done

1. Diagnosis is confirmed with tests, often including a laparoscopic look at the bile ducts.
2. Under general anaesthesia, small ports are placed in the abdomen.
3. The liver is lifted and the bile duct remnant is dissected and removed.
4. A Roux-en-Y intestinal loop is made, sometimes outside the body through the navel.
5. The loop is stitched to the liver using laparoscopic instruments.
6. The baby recovers in a high-dependency unit.

Before you travel to India

• All diagnostic reports, including bilirubin trends
• Ultrasound and any scan results
• Ask the centre how many laparoscopic Kasai procedures they perform
• Plan travel urgently; timing affects success

Recovery and flying home

• Hospital stay is usually one to two weeks
• Feeding may restart quickly
• Jaundice and bile flow are monitored closely
• Flying home when stable and feeding well
• Lifelong paediatric liver follow-up

Risks

• Poorer bile drainage than open surgery in some reports
• Cholangitis
• Conversion to open surgery
• Bleeding or bowel injury
• Need for liver transplant later

Alternatives

• Open Kasai procedure, the established standard
• Primary liver transplant for late diagnosis

Conditions treated

• Biliary Atresia

Hospitals in India for laparoscopic kasai procedure

• Medanta - The MedicityDelhi NCR
• Aster MedcityKochi
• Artemis HospitalDelhi NCR
• Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital & Medical Research InstituteMumbai
• Indraprastha Apollo HospitalsDelhi NCR
• BLK-Max Super Speciality HospitalDelhi NCR
• Apollo Multispecialty Hospitals, KolkataKolkata
• Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences (Narayana Health City)Bengaluru
• Apollo Hospitals, Navi MumbaiMumbai

How these hospitals compare

Specialists

• Dr Kulbhushan Singh DagarMax Super Speciality Hospital, Saket
• Dr Anurag KrishnaMax Smart Super Speciality Hospital, Saket
• Dr Krishna Subramony IyerFortis Escorts Heart Institute, Okhla
• Dr Vikas DuaFortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram
• Dr Suresh RaoKokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital
• Dr R Krishna KumarAmrita Hospital (Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences)

Frequently asked questions

Medically reviewed by The Curaventa Team. Last updated 2026-10-24. General information, not medical advice. Medical editorial board · Editorial policy · How we get prices