Preservation of the Native Esophagus in Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia: Case Presentation

Esophageal atresia type 1 is a rare birth defect that involves the loss of esophageal continuity without the presence of a tracheoesophageal fistula. In prenatal testing, polyhydramnios and the absence of a gastric bubble were observed. At birth, sialorrhea, cyanosis, and difficulty progressing the orogastric tube were noted. Although minimally invasive surgery with preservation of the native esophagus represents an innovative strategy to reduce morbidity and improve quality of life, it hasn't yet become the standard management due to its technical requirements and low volume of global cases. Three cases of patients with type I esophageal atresia with a long esophageal gap are presented, where the native esophagus was preserved after serial measurements of the esophageal ends with gastrostomy and thoracoscopic surgery or delayed open reconstruction without an esophagostomy in the first two months of life. Preserving the native esophagus in the correction of esophageal atresia is a viable alternative that neonatal referral centers can consider and replicate.