Correlation of respiratory problems with results of surgical treatment in esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula
T Soyer*, GD Tuğcu**, Ş Yalçın*, N Emiralioğlu**, E Yalçın**, İ Karnak*, DD Ersöz**, N Kiper**, U Özçelik**, FC Tanyel*
*Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Department of Pediatric Surgery
**Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology
Aim: To evaluate
the correlation between respiratory symptoms (RS) and results of surgical
treatment in esophageal atresia-tracheoesophageal fistula (EA-TEF).Methods:
Patients operated for EA-TEF were evaluated for age, sex, type of atresia, time
and type of esophageal repair (ER) and surgical complications. Respiratory functions
were correlated with type of atresia, time of ER and oral feeding with
Chi-square test. Results:
Fifteen patients operated for EA-TEF with RS were included. The mean age of the
patients was 36.9 months (4-8). Male to female ratio was 8:7. Types of atresia
were isolated-EA (n=10, 66.6%), EA-distal-TEF (n=4, 26.6%) and EA-proximal-TEF
(n=1, 6.6%). 73% of cases had associated anomalies. Primary ER (n=10), delayed
ER (n=4) and colonic replacement (n=1) were performed. Anastomotic leak was
seen in 3 patients (20%) whereas stenosis and recurrent fistula were seen in 1
patient. Oral feeding started early (<1 week) in 5 patients (33.3%), less
than 1 month in 6 patients (40%) and delayed (>1 month) in 4 (26.6%) patients.
Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) encountered in upper GI (n=5), and pH studies
(n=1). In videofloroscopic evaluation, aspiration
(n=3) and airway penetration (n=2) was seen during deglutition. Five cases had
a history of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). When type of atresia was
correlated with RS, isolated cases had more LRTI, aspiration, atelectasis, mechanical
ventilation and postoperative wheezing (p<0.05). Patients with primary ER had less
aspiration and consolidation than delayed repair (p<0.05). Patients with late-oral-feeding
had more mechanical ventilation, GER, need for inhalated medication and
peribronchial thickening than patients with early-feeding (p<0.05). Also, early-fed cases had
less atelectasis, and LTRI than delayed-oral-feeding (p<0.05). Conclusion:
RS are common in patients with EA-TEF and may be correlated with type of
atresia especially in isolated cases. Delayed ER and oral-feeding one month
after ER had more associated RS than primary cases and early-fed patients.
Keywords: