Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many cases of biliary atresia have been identified in Northern Ireland in each of the last five years. [81496]
§ Mr. McFallThe number of deaths and discharges from hospitals in Northern Ireland where the primary diagnosis was congenital biliary atresia during the last five years are given in Table 1.
Table 1 Deaths and discharges from hospitals in Northern Ireland where the primary diagnosis was congenital biliary atresia Year Number of deaths and discharges 1997–98 2 1996–97 8 1995–96 18 1994–95 19 1993–94 10 Source:
Hospital Inpatients System
Mr. John D. TaylorTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many Kasai operations have been carried out by the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children on babies suffering from biliary atresia each year for each of the last five years; how many such procedures have been successful; and how many children on whom the procedure has been used are alive with their own livers. [81495]
§ Mr. McFallOne kasai operation was performed in each of the years 1994, 1995 and 1996 with three operations carried out in 1997 and two in 1998. All eight children who have had kasai operations are alive. Two of these children have subsequently had liver transplants and a third is on the transplant waiting list. Six of the eight children are currently alive with their own livers.