GASTROINTESTINAL MORBIDITY AND GROWTH AFTER REPAIR OF ESOPHAGEAL ATRESIA AND TRACHEOESOPHAGEAL FISTULA

Upper gastrointestinal morbidity and anthropometric data in 334 patients aged 1 to 37 years with repaired oesophageal atresia and tracheo-oesophageal fistula are reported. Two thirds were subsequently hospitalised with oesophageal complications and half underwent one or more surgical procedures. Thirteen percent were hospitalised for more than 50 days. Anastomotic strictures were present in one third and just under half had gastro-oesophageal reflux. Dysphagia was present in about 65% in all age groups but symptom severity and surgical intervention decreased significantly after 5 years of age. Gastro-oesophageal reflux symptoms were commoner in the older patients increasing from 18% in the group under 5 years of age to 52% in those over 15 years. Height centile distribution was normal, but the median weight centile was the 25th. Weight for height values greater than 2 SD below the mean were present in 13%, and two thirds of these patients were under 5 years of age. The majority of adults enjoyed a normal lifestyle and were comparable with their peers.