Repair and Complications of Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Abstract

ESOPHAGEAL atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula are congenital anomalies that, until twenty years ago, had a very grave prognosis. Leven¹ and Ladd,² using a multiple-stage procedure, were among the first to repair the anomaly successfully, and Haight and Towsley³ performed the first successful primary anastomosis a short time later. The etiology, incidence and much other pertinent material have been reviewed by Haight.⁴ As summarized in Figure 1, there are five varieties of the anomaly in the following order of frequency: Type 1 consists of esophageal atresia with a fistula from the lower segment to the trachea; Type 2 has simple esophageal atresia . . .