Primary anastomosis in difficult cases of type “C” esophageal atresia: The atraumatic microvascular clamp technique of minimal tension with good outcome

Author(s):  
Pratheep Samraj ◽  
Goutam Chakraborty ◽  
Nidhi Sugandhi ◽  
Gunjan Shoor ◽  
Samir Kant Acharya ◽  
...  
2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Elbarbary ◽  
A Shalaby ◽  
M Elseoudi ◽  
M Ragab ◽  
A E Fares ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aim Thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia is gaining popularity worldwide owing to the availability of and advances in minimally invasive instruments. This report presents our early experience of thoracoscopic esophageal atresia repair (EA/TEF) in a single institute. Methods A prospective study on short-gap type C EA/TEF was conducted at Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital from April 2016. The technique was standardized in all cases: patients placed in the fully prone position, and using a 5 mm 30° scope with 3 mm instruments and carried out by four experts in minimally invasive surgery. Data was collected to include patient demographics and operative time. The main outcome was survival. Secondary outcomes were leak rate and postoperative stricture. Results Over a period of 24 months (April 2016–April 2018) 136 cases of EA/TEF were admitted. Thoracoscopy was attempted in 76 cases. Thirty cases with pure atresia or long-gap anomaly were excluded from this study for gap length, leaving 46 (60%) nonconsecutive neonates who underwent thoracoscopic repair of their short-gap EA/TEF. Five cases (10.8%) were converted to open surgery via right thoracotomy. A primary anastomosis was possible in all cases, leaving the azygos intact. The mean age at operation was 8.7 days (range 2–32), the mean weight was 2.6 kg (range 1.8–3.6), and the mean operative time was 108.3 minutes (range 80–180). In the fully thoracoscopic patients the survival was 85.4% (n = 35). An anastomotic leak occurred in 17% (n = 7); it was managed conservatively in 2 and with esophagostomy and gastrostomy in 5 cases. Followup was at one week, one and three months postdischarge. A stricture developed in 5 (16.6%) of the 30 surviving patients who kept their native esophagus. Conclusions Thoracoscopic repair is a feasible alternative even in a low-resource setting. The better outcome compared to traditional open repair in our center may be due to patient selection bias.


2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed M Elbarbary ◽  
Aly Shalaby ◽  
Mohamed Elseoudi ◽  
Hamed M Seleim ◽  
Moutaz Ragab ◽  
...  

Summary Thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia is gaining popularity worldwide attributable to availability and advances in minimally invasive instruments. In this report, we presented our experience with thoracoscopic esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) repair in our tertiary care institute. A prospective study on short-gap type-C EA/TEF was conducted at Cairo University Specialized Pediatric Hospital between April 2016 and 2018. Excluded were cases with birth weight < 1500 gm, inability to stabilize physiologic parameters, or major cardiac anomalies. The technique was standardized in all cases and was carried out by operating team concerned with minimally invasive surgery at our facility. Primary outcome evaluated was successful primary anastomosis. Secondary outcomes included operative time, conversion rate, anastomotic leakage, recurrent fistula, postoperative stricture, and time till discharge. Over the inclusion period of this study, 136 cases of EA/TEF were admitted at our surgical NICU. Thoracoscopic repair was attempted in 76 cases. In total, 30 cases were pure atresia/long gap type-C atresia and were excluded from the study. Remaining 46 cases met the inclusion criteria and were enrolled in the study. Mean age at operation was 8.7 days (range 2–32), and mean weight was 2.6 Kg (range 1.8–3.6). Apart from five cases (10.8%) converted to thoracotomy, the mean operative time was 108.3 minutes (range 80–122 minute). A tension-free primary anastomosis was possible in all thoracoscopically managed cases (n = 41) cases. Survival rate was 85.4% (n = 35). Anastomotic leakage occurred in seven patients (17%). Conservative management was successful in two cases, while esophagostomy and gastrostomy were judged necessary in the other for five. Anastomotic stricture developed in five cases (16.6%) of the 30 surviving patients who kept their native esophagus. Despite the fact that good mid-term presented results may be due to patient selection bias, thoracoscopic approach proved to be feasible for management of short-gap EA/TEF. Authors of this report believe that thoracoscopy should gain wider acceptance and pediatric surgeons should strive to adopt this procedure.


1992 ◽  
Vol 27 (8) ◽  
pp. 1127-1130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Prem Puri ◽  
George K. Ninan ◽  
Noel S. Blake ◽  
Raymond J. Fitzgerald ◽  
Edward J. Guiney ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Denise Schlee ◽  
Till-Martin Theilen ◽  
Henning Fiegel ◽  
Martin Hutter ◽  
Udo Rolle

Summary Esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare congenital disease which is usually not of the detected prenatally. Due to the lack of prenatal diagnosis, some newborns with EA are born outside of specialized centers. Nevertheless, centralized care of EA has been proposed, even if a clear volume–outcome association in EA management remains unconfirmed. Furthermore, whether outcomes differ between outborn and inborn patients with EA has not been systematically investigated. Therefore, this single-center, retrospective study aimed to investigate EA management and outcomes with a special focus on inborn versus outborn patients. The following data were extracted from the medical records of infants with EA from 2009 to 2019: EA type, associated anomalies, complications, and long-term outcome. Patients were allocated into inborn and outborn groups. Altogether, 57 patients were included. Five patients were excluded (referral before surgery, loss of data, death before surgery [n = 1], and incorrect diagnosis [diverticulum, n = 1]). Among all patients, the overall survival rate was 96%, with no mortalities among outborn patients. The overall hospitalization period was shorter for outborn patients. The median follow-up durations were 3.8 years and 3.2 years for inborn and outborn patients, respectively. Overall, 15% of patients underwent delayed primary anastomosis (long-gap atresia [n = 4] and other reasons [n = 4]). Early complications included three anastomotic leakages and one post-operative fistula; 28% of patients developed strictures, which required dilatation, and 38% of patients showed relevant gastroesophageal reflux, which required fundoplication, without any differences between the groups. The two groups had comparable low mortality and expected high morbidity with no significant differences in outcome. The outborn group showed nonsignificant trends toward lower morbidity and shorter hospitalization periods, which might be explained by the overall better clinical status.


2019 ◽  
Vol 32 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Menzies ◽  
Jennifer Hughes

Abstract Background Feeding problems have been described in children with esophageal atresia (EA). This can cause high levels of parental/caregiver concern. Aims The primary aim of this study was to determine specific feeding concerns of parents/caregivers of infants and young children with EA, including introducing solids and grading up to family foods. Methods A questionnaire was developed for parents/caregivers of infants/children with EA, aged 12 months to 6 years. Questionnaires were completed by 20 parents of infants/children attending a multidisciplinary EA clinic between June 2016 and June 2017. All children had type C EA. Demographics, feeding history, and parental concerns around feeding were assessed. The Montreal Children's Hospital Feeding Scale was also completed by parents. Results Eleven (55%) parents agree/strongly agree that they were concerned about their child's feeding prior to the introduction of solids and about moving from a smooth puree to more textured solids. The most common concerns were choking and food impaction for both time points. Twelve (60%) parents agree/strongly agree that the majority of mealtimes in their child's first 1–2 years of life were stressful. Thirteen (65%) parents reported avoiding particular foods due to their child's EA. The majority of children (n = 17) had no feeding difficulty according to an objective scale, with the rest minor. Conclusions This study highlights that parental concern around feeding still exists in infants and children without a severe feeding difficulty and needs to be addressed. Multidisciplinary involvement including a dietitian and speech pathologist from an early age is important for infants and children with EA. Further education provided to parents/caregivers may assist with reduced stress around feeding and create more positive mealtime behaviours.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (01) ◽  
pp. 096-103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Dellenmark-Blom ◽  
Julia Quitmann ◽  
Jens Dingemann ◽  
Stefanie Witt ◽  
Benno M. Ure ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction We aimed to identify clinical factors affecting condition-specific health related quality of life (HRQOL) domains in children born with esophageal atresia (EA). This can facilitate preventive care to risk groups of HRQOL impairments. Materials and Methods A total of 124 Swedish and German families of EA children answered the validated EA-QOL questionnaires (response rate 68%), for evaluation of three HRQOL domains in children 2 to 7 years old (53 parents) and four HRQOL domains in children 8 to 17 years old (62 children/71 parents). Clinical data were collected through medical records and a questionnaire. Statistics included between—group analysis, univariable and stepwise multivariable regression analysis, p < 0.05. Results Between 2 to 7 years, no primary anastomosis (p = 0.022) and female gender (p = 0.026) predicted worse scores related to “physical health and treatment,” and gastrostomy insertion related to “eating” (p = 0.0001), and “social isolation and stress” (p = 0.001). Between 8 to 17 years, no primary anastomosis (child report), prematurity, esophageal dilatation (parent report) predicted poor HRQOL related to “eating” (p < 0.05), associated anomalies to “body perception” (p = 0.031, parent report), female gender (p = 0.018, child report) and severe EA (p = 0.011 child report, p = 0.004 parent report) to “social relationships,” and severe EA predicted worse “health and well-being” scores (p = 0.004, parent report). An increased number of digestive symptoms (difficulty swallowing food, heartburn, and vomiting), lowered all EA-QOL domain scores in both age groups (p < 0.001). An increased number of respiratory problems (cough, wheezing, airway infections. breathlessness, and chest tightness), lowered scores in two HRQOL domains among children 2 to 7 years (p < 0.05). Conclusion Impairments within condition-specific HRQOL domains in EA children are found in congenital and surgical subgroups, and notably related to digestive symptoms throughout childhood.


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