title: Esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula: ten years of experience in an institute.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophageal atresia (EA), tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), or both is a complicated problem. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the outcomes and postoperative complications in patients with EA/TEF who were admitted to our hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 15 patients were enrolled from 1994 to 2003, including 8 males and 7 females. Patient demographics, associated anomalies, and outcomes were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common variant was EA with a distal TEF (type C), which occurred in 12 patients (80%). The latter had associated congenital anomalies, and cardiac anomalies were the most frequent, occurring in 8 patients (53.3%). Of the 6 cases who had life-threatening anomalies, 4 (66.7%) died, and of the 9 cases who had no life-threatening-anomalies, 2 (22.2%) died. Tracheomalacia and/or stenosis were diagnosed in 8 patients (66.7%) postoperatively. Though 3 of the 4 cases who suffered from dying spell received intratracheal stent implantation, 2 cases still died.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The survival rate of the patients with EA/TEF is influenced mainly by associated life-threatening anomalies. TMS combined with a history of dying spell may be the major fatal complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
authors.forename: Chia-Feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Wen-Jue
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Soong
authors.forename: Mei-Jy
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Jeng
authors.forename: Shu-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Sheng
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Pei-Chen
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Betau
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Chou-Fu
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Tai-Wai
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Chinsu
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D015996:Survival Rate; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*