Laparoscopic partial external biliary diversion procedure in progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis: a new approach.

Background: Progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis results in fibrosis, cirrhosis, and liver insufficiency if untreated. Medical therapy often fails and partial external biliary diversion has been recommended to prevent early liver transplantation. We present a new technique of performing a laparoscopic partial external biliary diversion and report our experience in a first series of infants.