title: Upper Airway Anomalies in Congenital Tracheoesophageal Fistula and Esophageal Atresia Patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the prevalence of upper airway anomalies in patients diagnosed with congenital tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia (TEF/EA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review was conducted of all TEF/EA patients seen at a tertiary pediatric hospital between January 2008 and December 2013. Inclusion criteria included evaluation by the otolaryngology service. Exclusion criteria included age>18 years, acquired TEF/EA, subsequent rule out of TEF/EA, and otolaryngology evaluation for reasons not pertaining to the airway. Data collected and analyzed included demographics, comorbidities, presenting symptoms, surgical interventions, laryngoscopic and bronchoscopic examinations, and subsequent medical and surgical management.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred and thirty patients were diagnosed with TEF/EA at our institution. In all, 32.3%, or 139 children, were included in the analysis; 56.1% (n=78) male, 43.9% (n=61) female. Of the analyzed patients, 4.3% (n=6) were diagnosed with laryngomalacia. Eighteen patients (12.9%) were diagnosed with subglottic stenosis. Thirty (21.6%) had vocal fold paresis or immobility. Laryngeal cleft was diagnosed in 25.9% (n=36). Tracheomalacia was the most common airway finding, diagnosed in 37.4% (n=52) patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients diagnosed with congenital TEF/EA have a high rate of secondary upper airway anomalies. Consideration should be given to perform a complete airway evaluation in all of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hseu
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Recko
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Russell
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jennings
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Enhancement, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA Roger.nuss@childrens.harvard.edu.
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nuss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D003710:Demography; D019468:Disease Management; D004933:Esophageal Atresia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007828:Laryngoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D013517:Otorhinolaryngologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D015619:Respiratory System Abnormalities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D063189:Symptom Assessment; D014138:Tracheoesophageal Fistula / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D055090:Tracheomalacia / Q000151:congenital / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: airway disorders; endoscopic assessment; laryngology; larynx; otolaryngology