title: Prophylactic extrapleural chest drainage following repair of esophageal atresia: is it necessary?
abstract: In a review of 110 cases of esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), 15 patients (13.6%) developed anastomotic leakage. All patients had extrapleural surgical exposure and prophylactic extrapleural chest drainage (PEPCD). Despite this precaution, all patients with anastomotic leaks developed a pneumothorax with or without a pleural effusion. This required insertion of an additional drain in 12 (80%) cases. PEPCD following repair of EA and TEF does not appear to prevent pneumothorax or pleural effusion when anastomotic leakage occurs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children, Northern Ireland.
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: McCallion
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hannon
authors.forename: V E
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Boston
mesh_terms: D004322:Drainage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008482:Mediastinum / Q000601:surgery*; D010996:Pleural Effusion / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000601:surgery; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*