Long-term follow-up of children with colon and gastric tube interposition for esophageal atresia.
BACKGROUND
There are two major methods of esophageal substitution for children born with long-gap esophageal atresia. This study was undertaken to see whether one method of substitution emerged as clearly superior to the other.


METHODS
Twenty-four UK children who received a colon transposition for esophageal atresia were compared with 15 US children with esophageal atresia who received a gastric tube. The charts of all patients were reviewed. Follow-up data were obtained by questionnaire, and more than 80% of patients were personally evaluated at follow-up clinics.


RESULTS
At follow-up US children were 3 1/2 to 18 1/2 years of age; UK children were 7 1/2 to 19 years of age. Most of the children fell at or below the 10th percentile for height and weight, reflecting the tendency for prematurity in infants with esophageal atresia. One half of the children needed to eat slowly and to avoid certain meats. Dysphagia was rare. Older children ate socially with their friends without embarrassment. Early complications were technical; there were few late complications, and no difference was apparent between the two groups.


CONCLUSIONS
In subjects who were growing, no difference was noted between the two methods of substitution as far as nutrition, growth, patient acceptability, or complications, early or late. Both groups functioned well and appeared to improve with the passage of time.
Anderson
K D
KD
Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010.
Noblett
H
H
Belsey
R
R
Randolph
J G
JG
D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D003672:Defecation; D004032:Diet; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007441:Intubation, Gastrointestinal / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011184:Postoperative Period; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D013997:Time Factors