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. 2010 Jun;53(6):705-10.
doi: 10.3345/kjp.2010.53.6.705. Epub 2010 Jun 23.

An 18-year experience of tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia

Juhee Seo  1 , Do Yeon Kim, Ai Rhan Kim, Dae Yeon Kim, Seong Chul Kim, In Koo Kim, Ki Soo Kim, Chong Hyun Yoon, Soo Young Pi
Affiliations

An 18-year experience of tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia

Juhee Seo et al. Korean J Pediatr. 2010 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose: To determine the clinical manifestations and outcomes of patients with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) and esophageal atresia (EA) born at a single neonatal intensive care unit.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted for 97 patients with confirmed TEF and EA who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between 1990 and 2007.

Results: The rate of prenatal diagnosis was 12%. The average gestational age and birth weight were 37(+2) weeks and 2.5±0.7 kg, respectively. Thirty-one infants were born prematurely (32%). Type C was the most common. The mean gap between the proximal and distal esophagus was 2 cm. Esophago-esophagostomy was performed in 72 patients at a mean age of 4 days after birth; gastrostomy or duodenostomy were performed in 8 patients. Forty patients exhibited vertebral, anorectal, cardiac, tracheoesophageal, renal, limb (VACTERL) association with at least 2 combined anomalies, and cardiac anomaly was the most common. The most common post-operative complications were esophageal stricture followed by gastroesophageal reflux. Balloon dilatation was performed for 1.3 times in 26 patients at a mean age of 3 months. The mortality and morbidity rates were 24% and 67%, respectively, and the most common cause of death was sepsis. The weight of approximately 40% patients was below the 10th percentile at 2 years of age.

Conclusion: Mortality and morbidity rates of patients with TEF and EA are high as compared to those of infants with other neonatal surgical diseases. Further efforts must be taken to reduce mortality and morbidity and improve growth retardation.

Keywords: Esophageal atresia; Growth; Morbidity; Mortality; Tracheoesophageal fistula; VACTERL association.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Comparison between mortality rates of 1990-1999 and 2000-2007. The mortality rate decreased during 2000-2007 as compared to that during 1990-1999. Abbreviation: AMA, against medical advice.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison between weights at 1 year and 2 years. The weight of patients at 2 years increased as compared to that of patients at 1 year. However, more than 40% of the patients still weighed below the 10th percentile.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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