Reoperation for anastomotic complications of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to review our experience in the re-operative management of anastomotic complications (ACs) following primary repair of esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) and to assess the outcomes after reoperation.

METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 21 EA patients who underwent reoperation from 2005 to 2014. Clinical features, reasons for reoperation, diagnosis of ACs, re-operative procedures and outcomes, as well as long-term follow-up of reoperation were analyzed.

RESULTS: Reoperation occurred in 16 recurrent TEF (RTEF) cases (76.2%), 4 severe anastomotic strictures (AS), and 1 anastomotic leakage (AL) cases (19% and 4.8%, respectively). All of AS and AL were confirmed by esophagography. RTEF were confirmed by esophagoscopy and bronchoscopy. All of the cases underwent reoperation successfully. The average operative time and length of post-operative hospital stay were 2.7 ± 0.8 hours and 15.4 ± 3.3 days, respectively. The mortality rate was 4.8%. All of the cases were followed up from 1 to 107 months after reoperation. No patients experienced respiratory or feeding issues. No severe postoperative complications were shown in all re-operative cases.

CONCLUSIONS: ACs including severe AS and AL as well as RTEF are the significant indications for reoperation after EA repair. The reoperation was effective to treat multiple anastomotic complications.