[Esophageal atresia and quality of life]

To evaluate the quality of life of patients with oesophageal atresia we studied 122 questionnaires about children operated on in several centres of the Federal Republic of Germany. On the basis of this information, the literature, and our own cases, we found that early childhood is complicated by operations, dilatations, difficulties in swallowing and frequent pulmonary infections. These problems improved in most cases during the first years of life. Later on the quality of life can be regarded as good.