Oral Presentation - 9
Correlation of respiratory problems with results of surgical treatment in esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula
Tutku Soyer 1, Gökşen Dilşa Tuğcu 2, Şule Yalçın 1, Nagehan Emiralioğlu 2, Ebru Yalçın 2, İbrahim Karnak 1, Deniz Doğru Ersöz 2, Nural Kiper 2, Uğur Özçelik 2, Feridun Cahit Tanyel 1
1 Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine Department of Pediatric Surgery
2 Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department Pediatrics, Division of Pulmonology
Aim: To evaluate the correlation between respiratory symptoms (RS) and results of surgical treatment in esophageal atresia-tracheoesophageal fistula (EA-TEF).Methods: Patients operated for EA-TEF were evaluated for age, sex, type of atresia, time and type of esophageal repair (ER) and surgical complications. Respiratory functions were correlated with type of atresia, time of ER and oral feeding with Chi-square test. Results: Fifteen patients operated for EA-TEF with RS were included. The mean age of the patients was 36.9 months (4-8). Male to female ratio was 8:7. Types of atresia were isolated-EA (n=10, 66.6%), EA-distal-TEF (n=4, 26.6%) and EA-proximal-TEF (n=1, 6.6%). 73% of cases had associated anomalies. Primary ER (n=10), delayed ER (n=4) and colonic replacement (n=1) were performed. Anastomotic leak was seen in 3 patients (20%) whereas stenosis and recurrent fistula were seen in 1 patient. Oral feeding started early (<1 week) in 5 patients (33.3%), less than 1 month in 6 patients (40%) and delayed (>1 month) in 4 (26.6%) patients. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) encountered in upper GI (n=5), and pH studies (n=1). In videofloroscopic evaluation, aspiration (n=3) and airway penetration (n=2) was seen during deglutition. Five cases had a history of lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI). When type of atresia was correlated with RS, isolated cases had more LRTI, aspiration, atelectasis, mechanical ventilation and postoperative wheezing (p<0.05). Patients with primary ER had less aspiration and consolidation than delayed repair (p<0.05). Patients with late-oral-feeding had more mechanical ventilation, GER, need for inhalated medication and peribronchial thickening than patients with early-feeding (p<0.05). Also, early-fed cases had less atelectasis, and LTRI than delayed-oral-feeding (p<0.05). Conclusion: RS are common in patients with EA-TEF and may be correlated with type of atresia especially in isolated cases. Delayed ER and oral-feeding one month after ER had more associated RS than primary cases and early-fed patients.