Management of esophageal atresia

A total of 303 infants with esophageal atresia and/or tracheoesophageal fistula were treated over 10 years (1980-1989). The overall survival rate was 86.5%. Associated anomalies were identified in 51.8% of patients, the most common being cardiac malformations which affected 24.4% of infants and was responsible for the majority of deaths. The dramatic increase in survival of infants with esophageal atresia in the past half century is due to improvements in pre- and postoperative management, meticulous operative technique to reduce anastomotic complications, and aggressive treatment of associated congenital anomalies.