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Respiratory complications in long-term survivors of oesophageal atresia
Insights
Children surviving repaired oesophageal atresia often experience recurrent respiratory issues, including frequent bronchitis and persistent coughs. Disordered esophageal motility may lead to aspiration, causing these long-term breathing complications.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Pulmonology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Oesophageal atresia repair survivors face long-term health challenges.
- Respiratory complications are a significant concern in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the frequency of respiratory complications in survivors of repaired oesophageal atresia.
- To investigate the potential causes of these respiratory issues.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 100 survivors of repaired oesophageal atresia (aged 1+ years).
- Data collected on frequency of bronchitis, persistent cough, and hospital admissions for chest infections.
Main Results:
- 78% experienced >3 bronchitis attacks/year in early childhood; 48% had >3 attacks/year after age 8.
- Half reported >3 episodes of prolonged cough (>2 weeks) in the preceding year.
- 58 children had at least one hospital admission for chest infection.
Conclusions:
- Survivors of repaired oesophageal atresia have a high incidence of recurrent respiratory complications.
- Disordered oesophageal motility leading to recurrent aspiration is implicated as the primary cause.
Abstract:
One hundred of the 192 survivors of repaired oesophageal atresia at the Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, aged one year and over on 1 November 1973, were reviewed to determine the frequency of respiratory complications. 78 children suffered from more than 3 attacks of bronchitis per year during the first 3 years of life and 48% of the children aged over 8 years were having more than three attacks per year. Episodes of cough persisting longer than 2 weeks were also common. In the year preceding review, about half the children had more than 3 such episodes. 58 children had been admitted to hospital on at least one occasion for chest infection. It is suggested that recurrent inhalation of milk and food, consequent upon disordered oesophageal motility, is the major factor causing these respiratory complications.