Sicily launches its first regional network for newborns with biliary atresia

Neonatology and pediatric experts from across Sicily in Palermo to discuss biliary atresia. Today, IRCCS ISMETT is hosting the round table Neonatologists and Pediatricians of Sicily – Defining the Regional Hub‑and‑Spoke Network for Biliary Atresia. The meeting brought together Sicilian specialists with the goal of defining an integrated organizational model for the management of biliary atresia, a rare but serious congenital liver disease that affects newborns.

The initiative is part of the Italian AVB 2.0 Project – Redesigning Care Pathways for Biliary Atresia in Italy, funded by the Ministry of Health through the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR‑MRI‑2023‑I2378119). The national multicenter program aims to standardize clinical and care protocols in order to improve early diagnosis, ensure timely surgical intervention, and guarantee continuity of care, with a direct impact on survival and quality of life of young patients.

The project leader is IRCCS ISMETT, which, in addition to hosting the round table, coordinates the development of the Sicilian regional network. Today’s meeting was the first real step toward creating the regional hub‑and‑spoke network, identifying shared roles, workflows, and procedures among Sicily’s neonatology and pediatric centers. Defining this network is essential to ensure uniform pathways and timely care of newborns affected by biliary atresia.

“The establishment of a regional hub‑and‑spoke network is a crucial step for the timely management of newborns with biliary atresia,” said Dr. Giusy Ranucci, Head of the Pediatrics and Pediatric Hepatology Unit at ISMETT and member of the scientific committee of the round table. “By working together, Sicilian hospitals and pediatric centers will be able to ensure shared protocols, faster diagnoses, and more effective surgical interventions, significantly improving the survival and quality of life of our young patients.”