A 2-month-old female infant is brought to the pediatric clinic by her parents, who are concerned about her yellowish skin and eyes (jaundice) that has been present since birth. The jaundice has progressively worsened over the past few weeks, and the baby also appears to be irritable, has poor feeding, and is not gaining weight as expected. The parents report no change in the color of her stools, but they notice the urine has become darker in color.

Upon physical examination, the infant has jaundice with a palpable hepatomegaly (enlarged liver). Her weight gain is below the expected growth curve. Blood tests show elevated liver enzymes, bilirubin levels, and prolonged prothrombin time. The pediatrician suspects biliary atresia, a condition where the bile ducts are blocked or absent, preventing bile from draining from the liver.

An abdominal ultrasound and a hepatobiliary scintigraphy are performed, confirming the diagnosis of biliary atresia. The infant is referred to a pediatric surgeon for further evaluation and management. The surgical team recommends a Kasai procedure, a liver portoenterostomy, to restore bile flow.

The parents are counseled on the need for early surgical intervention and long-term follow-up care. The infant is admitted to the hospital for stabilization and is scheduled for surgery. The prognosis for biliary atresia is highly dependent on early diagnosis and intervention, and with proper care, the infant has a good chance of achieving improved liver function and growth.