A spectrum of bronchopulmonary anomalies associated with tracheoesophageal malformations

Abstract

The combination of tracheoesophageal and pulmonary malformations is unusual and reportedly carries a high mortality. We have observed six patients with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula and one with a bronchoesophageal fistula who had associated bronchopulmonary anomalies ranging from lobar hypoplasia and agenesis to unilateral pulmonary hypoplasia or agenesis. All of the pulmonary malformations were right-sided. Vertebral or rib anomalies were present in five patients, congenital heart disease in two, imperforate anus in one and one patient had radial aplasia and Pierre Robin syndrome. The bronchopulmonary anomalies complicated the surgical care of tracheoesophageal malformations and required radiologic differentiation from aspiration pneumonia and atelectasis. Six of the seven patients survived. Mortality and morbidity were related to complications and associated cardiac anomalies as well as severity of the lung anomaly.