title: Lateral esophagostomy: an alternative in the initial management of long gap esophageal atresia without fistula.
abstract: The authors report an alternative method of cervical esophagostomy that was used in a child with type A esophageal atresia. This method involved performing a lateral esophagostomy in the proximal pouch, preserving its distal end, allowing the child to swallow normally, without choking, while stimulating the spontaneous growth of the proximal esophagus. As a result, the infant could be discharged home on G-tube feedings while waiting for spontaneous growth of the proximal pouch to occur. There were no episodes of aspiration during this period, and definitive reconstruction through end-to-end esophageal anastomosis was accomplished successfully at the age of 18 months. The authors consider that this alternative might increase the possibility of a definitive correction through delayed primary anastomosis of the infant's own esophagus in children with this type of malformation.
authors: Division of Pediatric Surgery, Santa Casa de Piracicaba, University of Campinas School of Medical Sciences, Campinas, Brazil.
authors: A S
authors: AS
authors: Aloisi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: de Freitas
authors: A C
authors: AC
authors: Colombo
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Amalfi
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Sbragia-Neto
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Bustorff-Silva
mesh_terms: D000714:Anastomosis, Surgical; D002404:Catheterization; D004750:Enteral Nutrition; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004946:Esophagostomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011859:Radiography