Videofluoroscopy of deglutition in children after repair of esophageal atresia.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the functional disorders of the oral and pharyngeal phases of deglutition after repair of esophageal atresia in children.


METHODS
19 children (10 girls, 9 boys, mean age 22 months) underwent videofluoroscopy of deglutition after repair of esophageal atresia. The videofluoroscopic studies were assessed according to functional and morphological changes in the oral, pharyngeal and esophageal phases. The persistence of radiologic findings on videofluoroscopy was determined.


RESULTS
The oral phase was normal in all patients. The main functional disorder of the pharyngeal phase was aspiration in 7 (37%) children. A completely normal deglutition in the pharyngeal and esophageal phases was not seen in any patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Videofluoroscopy after repair of esophageal atresia is helpful in differentiation of functional and morphological disorders that can lead to prandial aspiration and have an influence on the decision about continued therapy.
Hörmann
M
M
Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Vienna, Austria.
Pokieser
P
P
Scharitzer
M
M
Pumberger
W
W
Memarsadeghi
M
M
Partik
B
B
Ekberg
O
O
D003680:Deglutition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods