Aortopexy in esophageal atresia: long-term experience of a parent support group.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to obtain the parents' view of aortopexy after esophageal atresia.


METHODS
A questionnaire was completed by the parents of 24 former patients, now aged from 1 to 15 years (average, 8.9; median, 9.0 years). The respondents were all members of a support group.


RESULTS
The median age of the patients receiving aortopexy was 4 months. The 24 procedures were performed in 16 different hospitals. The subjects had experienced a median of 3 apneic attacks. Technical complications occurred in 4 of the 24 children. In 71%, aortopexy was an immediate success.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite its low success rate compared with centers with large cumulative experience, 90% of parents were satisfied with the result.
Schier
F
F
Department of Paediatric Surgery, University Medical Centre Jena, Germany.
Korn
S
S
Michel
E
E
D001011:Aorta / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D016896:Treatment Outcome