Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 28, 2026
Laparoscopic Repair of Para-Esophageal Hernia Using Absorbable Biosynthetic Mesh
Published on: September 11, 2021
[Outcome of children with repaired oesophageal atresia]
F Gottrand1, R Sfeir, S Coopman
1Centre de référence des affections congénitales et malformatives de l'oesophage, clinique de pédiatrie, hôpital Jeanne-de-Flandre, 2, avenue Oscar-Lambret, 59037 Lille cedex, France. fgottrand@chru-lille.fr
Insights
Long-term complications are common after oesophageal atresia repair, despite high survival rates. Ongoing multidisciplinary follow-up is crucial for managing digestive, respiratory, and orthopedic issues into adulthood.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Gastroenterology
- Pulmonology
Background:
- Oesophageal atresia (OA) has excellent survival rates (>95%) but frequently leads to long-term complications.
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux (GOR) affects 26-75% of OA patients, causing oesophagitis, stenosis, and Barrett's oesophagus.
- Other common issues include dysphagia (45% in 5-year-olds), growth retardation (33%), and respiratory problems like tracheomalacia (30% in 5-year-olds).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the spectrum and frequency of long-term complications following surgical repair of oesophageal atresia.
- To emphasize the need for lifelong, multidisciplinary surveillance of patients with oesophageal atresia.
Main Methods:
- This is a review of existing literature and clinical observations regarding long-term outcomes in oesophageal atresia.
- Data on digestive, respiratory, nutritional, and orthopedic complications were compiled.
Main Results:
- Gastro-oesophageal reflux, dysphagia, growth retardation, and respiratory issues are highly prevalent.
- Skeletal deformities like rib cage deformation (20%) and scoliosis (10%) are also reported.
- Despite complications, adult quality of life is generally good, influenced by associated malformations.
Conclusions:
- While initial survival for oesophageal atresia is high, significant long-term morbidities necessitate continuous monitoring.
- Systematic, multidisciplinary follow-up is essential to manage secondary esophageal damage and other complications throughout a patient's life.
Abstract:
Although initial prognosis of oesophageal atresia is nowadays excellent with more than 95% of survival, the long-term complications are frequent. A gastro-oesophageal reflux is found in 26 to 75% of the cases, responsible for peptic oesophagitis, anastomotic stenosis and Barrett's oesophagus, risk factor of adenocarcinoma of the oesophagus. A dysphagia is frequently observed on these patients, sometimes several years after the surgery, observed in almost 45% of five-year-old children. Growth retardation is found in nearly a third of these children. Respiratory symptoms are particularly frequent, especially in the first years, associating tracheomalacia facilitating the bronchopulmonary infectious episodes (found in about 30% of 5-year-old children). Esotracheal fistula recurrence is very rare. A deformation of the rib cage is reported in 20%, and a scoliosis in 10% of the patients. However, the quality of life of these patients in the adulthood is good, and influenced by the existence of associated malformations. Even if the current prognosis of oesophageal atresia is good altogether, the frequency of the complications (digestive, respiratory, nutritional, orthopaedic) far from the initial intervention, and the necessity of a surveillance of the secondary oesophageal damages, justifies a systematic and multidisciplinary follow-up until adulthood.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Esophageal Strictures-II: Clinical Features and Management
Healthcare providers should gather a comprehensive medical history and conduct a physical examination for diagnosis. If esophageal stricture is...
01:28Esophageal Perforation-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
Clinical Manifestations:
01:30Esophageal Strictures-I: Introduction
Etiology
The primary cause of esophageal strictures is long-standing gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), accounting for about 70 to 80% of adult cases. Chronic acid reflux can lead to injury and scarring of the esophageal lining, culminating in...
01:22Esophageal Perforation-I: Introduction
The location of esophageal perforation can vary, occurring anywhere along the esophagus.
01:27Esophageal Achalasia
01:21Barrett Esophagus-II: Clinical Manifestations and Management
To diagnose Barrett's esophagus, healthcare providers often recommend an endoscopy for those showing symptoms of acid reflux. The procedure entails...