Nutritional Intervention With High Chain Triglyceride Formula During Perioperative Period of Kasai Surgery for Biliary Atresia: a Prospective Multicenter Trial

What this Trial Is About

Infants with biliary atresia (BA) face a high risk of malnutrition due to problems like poor dietary intake, difficulty absorbing nutrients, higher metabolism, and liver-related metabolic issues. Researchers are studying how intensified enteral feeding using a high medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) formula during the perioperative period affects the growth and prognosis of children with BA. This is a prospective, randomized, open-label, multicenter interventional study comparing this approach to traditional oral feeding methods. The study compares two groups: one receiving a high MCT formula designed to provide 800 kcal per 1000 mL with 15.8 g of MCT and 21.5 g of protein, given at 160 mL/kg/day to supply 2.7 g/kg/day of MCT; the other group receives a normal traditional formula with energy intake based on 130-150% of the recommended dietary intake (DRI). Feeding amounts and schedules are tailored by the children and their caregivers, with the experimental feeding beginning post-operation and continuing for six months, including supplementation via nasogastric tube if needed. Participants will be infants under 3 months old diagnosed with biliary atresia and scheduled for Kasai surgery. Researchers will monitor growth through measurements like age-adjusted weight and height Z scores at six months. The study includes regular follow-up visits for nutritional assessment and feeding adjustments. Participants’ nutritional status and response to the feeding protocols will be recorded to assess the impact on growth and recovery over the study period.

Nutritional Intervention for Biliary Atresia