title: Oesophageal atresia: what has changed in the last 3 decades?
abstract: The aim of the study was to analyse the outcomes of children born with oesophageal atresia over the last 3 decades. The records of 104 patients born between 1973 and 1999 were reviewed retrospectively. To evaluate changes over time, the analysis was done for three consecutive time periods: 1973-79, 1980-89, and 1990-99. Mean birth weight was 2553 g (SD 640), and mean gestational age was 39 weeks (SD 4). Forty-two newborns (40%) had one or more associated congenital malformations, and 30% had associated cardiac malformations. There was no change in incidence of associated anomalies over the three time periods studied. Mortality of patients decreased from 33% to 14% (p = 0.048). There was a significant association between the presence of a major cardiac malformation and survival (survival: 88% vs. 57%, p = 0.004). Analysing the three different time periods separately reveals that cardiac disease was not a significant risk factor in the first period but became significant in the period from 1980-99 (relative risk: 6.76, 95% CI 1.44-31.77). Birth weight was significantly higher in infants who survived (2626 g, SD 642) compared with those who died (2290, SD 570, p = 0.028). This effect, however, is mainly based on the difference during the first period and is lost later. Early and late postoperative complications occurred in 44/102 patients. Strictures developed in 33/91 patients who survived the first month of life (33%). The rate of symptomatic strictures decreased significantly over the three time periods, from 50% to 23% (p = 0.022). In summary, this study shows no significant change in patient characteristics over the last 3 decades, but mortality and postoperative complication rates decreased, and associated cardiac anomalies became the far most important risk factor for mortality.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, University Children's Hospital, 3010 Bern, Switzerland. info@m-toenz.ch
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tönz
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köhli
authors.forename: Georges
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kaiser
mesh_terms: D000015:Abnormalities, Multiple; D001724:Birth Weight; D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000601:surgery*; D004940:Esophageal Stenosis / Q000209:etiology; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005865:Gestational Age; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome