Analysis of Prognostic Factors and Mortality in Children with Esophageal Atresia.
OBJECTIVE
The survival rate in newborns with congenital esophageal atresia (EA) is about 85-90 %, and it raises over 95 % in the developed countries. The survival rate in developing countries is much lower and the authors describe their experience with 60 newborns.


METHODS
Medical records of 60 newborns (40 boys and 20 girls) with congenital EA were reviewed for the prognostic factors and mortality.


RESULTS
The birth weight, mean Apgar score (AS) value, gestational age and birth-operative treatment time had significant influence on the mortality of treated patients (p < 0.05). Thirty five percent newborns had aspirational pneumonia at the moment of hospitalization and 86.7 % of them were operated during the first 48 h. The presence of associated anomalies considerably affected the death rate of treated patients (p < 0.05). The incidence of postoperative complications was similar to those in developed countries but the total mortality was higher (28.3 %); sepsis being the main cause of mortality. The postoperative complications and sepsis significantly influenced the mortality of patients (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Total mortality in newborns with EA was high; sepsis being the most frequent cause of death. The high total mortality was also caused by prematurity, delay in diagnosis, increased incidence of the aspiration pneumonia and shortage of qualified nurses.
Institute for Mother and Child Health Care of Republic Serbia "Dr Vukan Cupic", Radoja Dakica 8 street, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
Miroslav
M
Vukadin
Djordje
D
Savic
Aleksandar
A
Malikovic
Danica
D
Jovanovic
Maja
M
Milickovic
Srdjan
S
Bosnic
Aleksandar
A
Vlahovic
D004933:Esophageal Atresia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate