A female child, 5 years and 5 months of age, who had had longstanding obstructive jaundice with hepatic dysfunction from the age of 6 months, underwent Y-hepaticojejunostomy according to Roux after dissection of the entire extrahepatic duct with severe periductal fibrosis. At that time, liver biopsy already showed progress to biliary cirrhosis with prominent ductal proliferation in Glisson's triad. Although good bile drainage to the intestine was obtained early after the operation, 2 years elapsed until disappearance of jaundice and ascites with improvement of liver function. The patient is now 13 years old and doing well with moderately impaired liver function. No oesophageal varices have been seen by endoscopy lately. The clinical course and data are suggestive of an abortive form of biliary atresia.