The influence of congenital heart disease on survival of infants with oesophageal atresia.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the prevalence of congenital heart disease in babies with oesophageal atresia and its influence on outcome.


METHODS
Retrospective analysis.


METHODS
The resident population of one health region.


RESULTS
A total of 153 babies with oesophageal atresia were identified from 509 975 live births (0.30 per 1000); 26 (17%) had cardiac defects. Survival of babies with normal hearts was 97%, 97%, and 95% at one week, one month, and one year. Survival of babies with congenital heart disease was 85%, 85%, and 67% at one week, one month, and one year, but only one of ten deaths was the result of the congenital heart disease. The remaining deaths were due to other congenital malformations, respiratory disease, or chromosome abnormalities.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a high prevalence of congenital heart disease in babies with oesophageal atresia. Congenital heart disease is associated with a higher mortality in oesophageal atresia but it is not the cause of it.
Leonard
H
H
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
Barrett
A M
AM
Scott
J E
JE
Wren
C
C
D002423:Cause of Death; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies