title: Endoscopic treatment of recurrent tracheo-oesophageal fistulae: long-term results.
abstract: Recurrent tracheo-oesophageal fistula (RTOF) occurs in 5%-15% of patients following oesophageal atresia repair. Re-thoracotomy is technically challenging and associated with significant morbidity, including a re-fistulation rate of 10%-22%. Endoscopic occlusion of the RTOF with tissue adhesives (fibrin glue, Histoacryl) is reported to be safe and highly effective. However, long-term results of such therapy are absent from the literature. A postal survey of 13 institutions reporting the use of such treatment regimes for RTOF in the literature between 1974 and 1995 was performed, and data collected concerning the long-term outcomes of their reported patients. Eleven institutions responded to the request for data, providing 22 patients (age range 1 month to 12 years) for review. All had undergone initially successful RTOF closure by endoscopic methods and had been followed up for a median of 107 months (range 3-264 months). There was no morbidity or mortality directly related to the procedure. Overall, only 55% of these endoscopically treated fistulas remained closed long-term. Fistula recurrence invariably occurred within 12 months of successful therapy (median 46 days, range 9-335). Most patients required multiple endoscopic procedures to achieve successful RTOF closure (median 2.0, range 1-4 attempts), although significantly fewer attempts were required with fibrin glue therapy. Surgical re-exploration remains the treatment of choice in the fit child. Endoscopic therapy offers a safe and elegant alternative to high-risk surgery in the sick child, although repeated treatments may be required for successful RTOF closure.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Surgical Directorate, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headington, Oxford, UK.
authors.forename: I E
authors.initials: IE
authors.lastname: Willetts
authors.forename: N E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Dudley
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Tam
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004659:Enbucrilate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004724:Endoscopy; D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012008:Recurrence; D014014:Tissue Adhesives / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000151:congenital* / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015718:Fibrin Tissue Adhesive; D014014:Tissue Adhesives; D004659:Enbucrilate