title: Retrospective cohort study of long-gap oesophageal atresia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Long-gap oesophageal atresia (LGOA) remains a rare variant of a relatively common congenital malformation. Objectives of this study were to review the short-term results including survival, length of stay and post-operative complications for infants with LGOA managed at a single centre in addition to their growth and neurodevelopmental assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review of the case notes of all infants admitted with oesophageal atresia to our institution from January 2001 to May 2011. Infants with LGOA were selected based on pre-defined criteria. Demographic and clinical variables and details of follow-up visits including developmental assessments were extracted from their case notes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 101 infants with oesophageal atresia, 15 fulfilled the criteria for LGOA. Overall survival was 80%. Median length of stay was 83 days. Additional congenital anomalies were present in nine (60%). A fall in weight centile during hospitalisation or outpatient follow-up signifying growth failure was seen in a majority with 11 of 13 patients showing this phenomenon. Follow-up at our institution ranged from 6 months to 9 years. Developmental assessments (Bayley-III) commenced in August 2006 were available in four patients (age 5-13 months) and were abnormal in all, with particular delay in the gross motor domain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infants with LGOA spend a long time in hospital. They remain at significant risk of growth failure during hospitalisation and following discharge. There appears to be a risk of developmental delay that warrants close monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Grace Centre for Newborn Care, The Children's Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Rajesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maheshwari
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Trivedi
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: Andrew J A
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Holland
mesh_terms: D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn / Q000254:growth & development*; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: growth and development; newborn; oesophageal atresia