Infarction of the common bile duct in an infant after surfical exploration for jaundice: a possible cause of extrahepatic biliary atresia.

An infant explored for obstructive jaundice died 6 days postoperatively and was 
found to have extensive infarction of the common duct. This would 
have gone undetected had the patient survived and without careful sampling 
at autopsy. The incidence of this unsuspected complication is unknown. Surgical 
infarction may be one cause of fibrosis and secondary atresia of 
the extra-hepatic bile ducts. 