Eleven patients presenting with spontaneous perforation of the biliary tract were treated at Bicêtre Hospital between 1971 and 1993. Three groups were individualised, each with a different pattern of local presentation: generalised biliary peritonitis (n = 2), localised biliary peritonitis (n = 4), secondary biliary stenosis (n = 5). In each case, cholestatic jaundice developed after a postnatal symptom-free interval. Ten patients were operated on. Perforation was located in the cystic duct (n = 2), at the junction of the cystic and hepatic ducts (n = 4), in the common hepatic duct (n = 1) or common bile duct (n = 1). The site of perforation was no longer identifiable in two cases with stenosis. A cholecystectomy was performed in the 2 cases with cystic duct perforation; in the cases of lesions of the main duct, either simple external biliary drainage (n = 3) or biliary reconstruction (n = 5) was carried out. Postoperative complications included bile leak (n = 2), ascending cholangitis (n = 1), portal vein thrombosis (n = 2). Five patients were submitted to further surgery including biliary revision (n = 3), porto-systemic shunt (n = 1), and other procedures (n = 2). One infant died from postoperative sepsis; 2 were lost to follow-up, one of which probably did not survive; 4 are alive and well. Late sequelae are present in 4 children: portal hypertension (n = 1), mild residual bile duct dilatation without cholestasis (n = 1), and mild to moderate liver fibrosis (n = 2). Prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment should improve the prognosis of this rare condition.

Augmentation cystoplasty and continent urinary diversion procedures can increase the functional capacity of the small bladder and allow the majority of patients to achieve continence while preserving renal function. Combined bladder neck closure is not necessary to obtain urinary continence; on the contrary, it eliminates a useful pop-off mechanism. Neocystouretrostomy is not required for every refluxing ureter unless it can be performed on the original bladder. Bladder stones and stomal stenosis are the most significant long-term complications in these patients.

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Arare case of ileal perforation, as a fatal initial presentation of total colonic aganglionosis (TCA) in infancy is reported. A 10-week-old boy, was brought to the emergency department with symptoms of complicated intestinal obstruction. He looked ill, was lethargic, markedly dehydrated and had a severely distended abdomen. An abdominal X-ray revealed multiple air fluid levels seen in a distended small intestine. During exploratory laparotomy the ileum was massively dilated with distal segment perforation. Ileal perforation repair was performed. A totally collapsed microcolon was identified. Biopsies were taken from the high rectum, sigmoid and hepatic flexure. Appendectomy and ileostomy were performed. All biopsies, as well as the appendix, showed absence of ganglion cells. Despite this procedure the patient progressively deteriorated and later died due to sepsis. Ileal perforation in infants is a rare, but potentially fatal initial presentation of TCA. Early detection is essential to prevent life-threatening complications.