Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula: Surgical Experience Over Two Decades

Background. Despite improvements in survival, for infants born with esophageal atresia tracheoesophageal fistula, or both, the morbidity associated with repair of these anomalies remains high. Methods. This report retrospectively analyzes 81 patients with esophageal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistul...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The Annals of thoracic surgery Vol. 64; no. 3; pp. 778 - 783
Main Authors:	Tsai, Josephine Y, Berkery, Leah, Wesson, David E, Redo, S.Frank, Spigland, Nitsana A
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Netherlands Elsevier Inc 01-09-1997
Subjects:	Anastomosis, Surgical - adverse effects Anastomosis, Surgical - methods Birth Weight Cause of Death Colon - transplantation Dilatation esophageal atresia Esophageal Atresia - surgery esophageal replacement Esophageal Stenosis - etiology Esophagus - surgery Female Follow-Up Studies Gestational Age Humans Infant, Newborn Male Necrosis Recurrence Reoperation Retrospective Studies Survival Rate Tracheal Stenosis - etiology tracheoesophageal fistula Tracheoesophageal Fistula - congenital Tracheoesophageal Fistula - surgery esophageal atresia esophageal replacement tracheoesophageal fistula
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Background. Despite improvements in survival, for infants born with esophageal atresia tracheoesophageal fistula, or both, the morbidity associated with repair of these anomalies remains high. Methods. This report retrospectively analyzes 81 patients with esophageal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistula, or both presenting to our institution between 1975 and 1995, with a focus on anastomotic complications. Results. There were 46 male and 35 female patients with a mean gestational age of 37 weeks and mean birth weight of 2443 g. Forty-four patients underwent primary esophageal anastomoses, 7 underwent delayed primary anastomoses, 12 patients underwent staged repairs, and 5 underwent repair of H-type fistulas. Among 62 patients with anastomoses, complications included stricture in 25/62 patients (40%), leakage in 12/62 patients (19%), and recurrent tracheoesophageal fistulas in 6/62 patients (10%). Stricture rates for esophagocolonic anastomoses versus esophagoesophageal anastomoses were 4/8 cases (50%) versus 21/54 cases (39%). This difference was not statistically significant. All esophagoesophageal strictures were managed successfully with dilations; three of four esophagocolonic strictures required anastomotic revision. The leakage rate for esophagocolonic anastomoses versus esophagoesophageal anastomoses was 6/8 cases (75%) versus 6/54 cases (11%). This difference was statistically significant ( p = 0.0003). Two patients required revision of their colon grafts secondary to necrosis. Eighteen of 81 patients (22%) died. Operative mortality was 9/74 (12%). Causes of death included associated anomalies (n = 15), recurrent aspiration and sepsis secondary to missed fistula (n = 1), and unknown (n = 2). Conclusions. Although the morbidity associated with surgical repair of these anomalies is high, this does not affect the overall survival. The high complication rate associated with colonic interposition suggests that one should preserve the native esophagus as a primary conduit whenever feasible.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0003-4975 1552-6259
DOI:	10.1016/S0003-4975(97)00752-2