Survival of patients with esophageal atresia: influence of birth weight, cardiac anomaly, and late respiratory complications.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to determine the influence of various prognostic factors on the outcome of esophageal atresia patients.

METHODS: The authors reviewed 240 charts of patients admitted with esophageal atresia or tracheoesophageal fistula (EA-TEF) in a single institution. A logistic regression model was used with survival as the dependent variable and era of repair, birth weight, and cardiac anomaly as independent variables.

RESULTS: Era was statistically significant (P = .011); 87% (117 of 134) of patients survived in the era from 1980 through 1997 compared with 78% (83 of 106) from 1960 through 1979. Cardiac anomaly (CHD) was a significant risk factor (P = .001); 88% (176 of 199) survived without cardiac anomaly, whereas only 59% (24 of 41) survived with cardiac disease. Eighty-four percent (185 of 219) of infants with a birth weight (BW) of more than 1,500 g survived, compared with 71% (15 of 21) of infants with a birth weight of less than 1,500 g. This was not statistically significant (P = .59). Early hospital deaths were primarily cardiac and chromosomal (61%). Late deaths were primarily respiratory (59%; two-tailed Fisher's Exact test, P = .004).

CONCLUSIONS: (1) Survival of patients with esophageal atresia has significantly improved in the recent years. (2) Low birth weight (<1,500 g) does not seem to affect survival. (3) Associated cardiac and chromosomal anomalies are significant causes of death, particularly for early demise. (4) Late death from respiratory disease (tracheomalacia, reactive airway disease, reflux, and aspiration) warrants attention, and a close follow-up of postoperative patients is suggested.