title: Congenital Oesophageal atresia: a review of clinical experience of 47 cases.
abstract: Our experience in treating congenital oesophageal atresia in the central part of the Indian subcontinent is presented. Forty-seven cases were diagnosed over a period of 6 years. Of these 31 were operated upon. Prematurity, low birth weight and other associated anomalies were present in a large number. Anatomical types and clinical presentation confirmed to the usual pattern. There was delay in diagnosis and instituting surgical care in most cases. The causes and remedies for this are discussed. Of the 31 operated infants 20 died within a week. Seven infants died in the hospital after the 1st week. Only four were discharged as cured. This is considered a satisfactory achievement in the presence of many shortcomings in expert manpower, basic needs of transport and nursing care. It is recommended that all surgical centres should undertake this procedure as a salvage procedure because no other alternative is available. Development of specialized units will not be able to cater to the whole population in a large country for many more years.
mesh_terms: D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications