Demographic characteristics in patients with short-gap and long-gap esophageal atresia: a comparative study

BackgroundThe knowledge of the size of the gap between esophageal ends in esophageal atresia (EA) before surgery is of clinical importance. The aim of this study was to compare the demographic characteristics between patients with short-gap esophageal atresia (SGEA) and long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA). Patients and methodsMedical records of all patients managed for EA spectrum in our department between 2003 and 2012 were evaluated, retrospectively. Demographic data included the maternal age, the number of parities and deliveries, the presence of polyhydramnios and the prenatal diagnosis, sex, the gestational age and prematurity, the type of delivery and the birth weight, age at the time of diagnosis and treatment, the presence of associated anomalies including VACTERL-type and non-VACTERL-type anomalies, the type of EA according to Gross classification, and discrepancies between the diameters of atretic esophageal ends. SGEA and LGEA were defined as a gap of less than three vertebral bodies or three or more vertebral bodies in length between the atretic esophageal ends, respectively. ResultsThere were 99 patients treated for the diagnosis of EA spectrum during the study period: 81 in the SGEA group and 18 in the LGEA group. Most of the parameters studied did not differ between the two groups. Type-C EA was more prevalent in patients with SGEA (n=77/81) and type-A was more frequent in children with LGEA (n=8/18) (P
Source: Annals of Pediatric Surgery - Category: Surgery Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research