INoEA 2025 7th International Conference on Esophageal Atresia & 11th International PAAFIS Symposium & Aerodigestive Society Meeting

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Poster - 42

Thoracoscopic salvage surgery for oesophageal atresia is feasible after previous thoracotomy.

Caroline Pardy 1, Dominika Borselle 2, Ana Sofia Martinho 3, Stefano Giuliani 1, Stefaan Tytgat 4, Jorge Correia-Pinto 3, Arnaud Bonnard 5, Dariusz Patkowski 2, Steven Rothenberg 6, Paolo De Coppi 1
1 Specialist Neonatal and Paediatric Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
2 Department of Pediatric Surgery and Urology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
3 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
4 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
5 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Robert-Debré Children's University Hospital, Paris, France
6 Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, Denver, CO, United States

Aim: to describe the collective experience of six international tertiary paediatric surgery centres performing thoracoscopic salvage surgery for oesophageal atresia.

Methods: retrospective review of all neonates undergoing thoracoscopic repair of oesophageal atresia following a previous failed repair via thoracotomy, from September 2018 - May 2024, at 6 international tertiary paediatric surgery centres. Data collected included demographics, co-morbidities, operative details and post-operative clinical course.

Results: 24 babies included. Median gestational age 34 (26-40), birthweight 1858g (780-3300). 11 (46%) had associated cardiac anomalies. 19 type C (79%), 4 type B (17%), 1 type A (4%). 7/24 (29%) had thoracoscopic traction sutures, and 2/24 (8%) had a cervical oesophagostomy formed prior to thoracoscopic repair. Definitive thoracoscopic repair was undertaken at median 23 weeks (7-23) after initial thoracotomy, at median age of 6 months (1-26) and weight of 5340g (1050-1100). Median operative time was 245 minutes (120-585). 23/24 (96%) were completed thoracoscopically. Follow-up was 36 months (7-130). 17/24 (71%) developed an oesophageal stricture requiring a median of 5 dilatations (1-45). 1 patient had a recalcitrant stricture resected thoracoscopically a year after definitive thoracoscopic repair. 2/24 (8%) developed a fistula to the airway. 1 patient developed a recurrent TOF requiring 3 bronchoscopic applications of TCA. A second patient developed a fistula to the right upper lobe bronchus requiring a thoracotomy for repair. 2/24 (8%) developed significant gastro-oesophageal reflux disease requiring a fundoplication. One patient required an aortopexy and re-do aortopexy for management of tracheomalacia. 1 death at 11 months of age (2 months post definitive repair) in a patient with complex congenital cardiac disease. 22/23 (96%) patients are feeding exclusively orally. 1 patient born at 26 weeks is feeding orally with gastric top-ups.

Conclusion: thoracoscopic salvage surgery in oesophageal atresia when undertaken by experienced surgeons is feasible, safe and with good clinical outcomes.

Caroline Pardy 1, Dominika Borselle 2, Ana Sofia Martinho 3, Stefano Giuliani 1, Stefaan Tytgat 4, Jorge Correia-Pinto 3, Arnaud Bonnard 5, Dariusz Patkowski 2, Steven Rothenberg 6, Paolo De Coppi 1
1 Specialist Neonatal and Paediatric Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, United Kingdom
2 Department of Pediatric Surgery and Urology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
3 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Hospital de Braga, Braga, Portugal
4 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
5 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Robert Debré Children's University Hospital, Paris, France
6 Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children, Denver, CO, United States

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