Early and Long Term Outcome in Children with Esophageal Atresia Treated Over the Last 22 Years

Background: The survival of infants born with esophageal atresia (EA) is > 90 % at present. The purpose of this study was to evaluate early complications and long term outcome in children with EA treated at our institution. Methods and Patients: Retrospective analysis of 111 children with EA undergoing repair of EA or tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). Assessment of early and intermediate complications as well as long term morbidity and mortality. Results: Primary anastomosis was performed in 90 (81 %) and secondary anastomosis in 7 patients (6 %). Gastric transposition was carried out in 14 children (13 %). The postoperative mortality was 14/111 (12.6 %) and could be estimated by the Spitz classification. At the age of 10 years, 33 patients (72 %) were swallowing without problems, 39 children (85 %) were eating at least most of the time with pleasure but 19 children (41 %) had a body weight less than the 25(th) percentile. Staged repair by gastric transposition resulted in the least amount of motility dysfunction. Long-term respiratory morbidity was high. Conclusion: The survival of children with EA has improved in the last two decades. For risk assessment the Spitz' classification is valid. Long term gastrointestinal and respiratory morbidity remains high. In children with long-gap EA gastric transposition performed as a staged procedure has satisfactory results and seems superior to techniques preserving the native esophagus.