Surgical outcomes of esophageal atresia without fistula for 24 years at a single institution
Received 28 October 2008; received in revised form 2 February 2009; accepted 2 February 2009.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim of the study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of esophageal atresia (EA) without fistula for 24 years at a single tertiary center for pediatric surgery.
Methods
The study used a retrospective chart review of infants diagnosed with EA without fistula between 1981 and 2005.
Results
Of 33 patients with EA without fistula, 31 charts were available. Mean birth weight was 2327 g (range, 905-3390 g), and 71% were male. Most common associated anomalies were cardiac (n = 6; 19%) and renal (n = 5; 16%), followed by vertebral (n = 4; 13%) and anorectal (n = 2; 7%). The median initial esophageal gap was 5 vertebral bodies. Six had a primary repair, and 25 patients had esophageal replacement at a median age of 7 months. This involved gastric transposition in 20 (1 followed failed jejunal interposition), colonic interposition in 5, jejunal interposition in 1 (after a failed colonic), and repair at another center in 1. With a median review of 9 years, 21 patients had long-term sequelae with the need for multiple further surgical procedures including an antireflux procedure in 5. One patient died.
Conclusions
Management of EA without fistula remains challenging. Most patients required staged treatment that included esophageal replacement. The frequency of late complications indicates the need for programmed long-term review.
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Institute of Child Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children, University College London, London, UK
Corresponding author. Department of Academic Surgery, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9845 1908; fax: +61 2 9845 3346.
ABSTRACT