Thoracoscopic surgery for recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula after esophageal atresia repair

Abstract

Summary We aimed to investigate the safety, feasibility, and outcomes of thoracoscopic surgery for recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula (rTEF) after esophageal atresia repair. The medical records and follow-up data of 31 patients who underwent thoracoscopic surgery for rTEF at a single institution were collected and reviewed. In total, 31 patients were enrolled with a median age of 7 months (range: 3–30 months) and a median weight of 6,000 g (range: 4,000–12,000 g) before reoperation. The median operation time for the entire series was 2.9 hours (range: 1.5–7.5 hours), and the median total hospitalization duration after surgery was 19 days (range: 11–104 days). One patient died of anastomotic leakage, a second rTEF, severe malnutrition, and thoracic infection; the mortality rate was 3.23% (1/31). Nine patients (9/31, 29.03%) had an uneventful recovery, and the incidences of postoperative anastomotic leakage, anastomotic stricture, and second rTEF were 25.81%, 61.29%, and 9.68%, respectively. After a median follow-up of 12 months (range: 3–24 months), 26 survivors resumed full oral feeding, 2 were tube fed, 2 required a combination of methods, and 4 patients experienced severe respiratory complications. In total, 9 patients had pathological gastroesophageal reflux, and 2 patients eventually underwent Nissen fundoplication. Of the 30 survivors with growth chart data, the median weight for age Z-score, height for age Z-score, and weight for height Z-score were − 0.46 (range: −5.1 to 2.8), 0.75 (range: −2.7 to 4.7), and − 1.14 (range: −6.8 to 3.0), respectively. Thoracoscopic surgical repair for rTEF is safe, feasible, and effective with acceptable mortality and morbidity.