Transanastomotic Tube for Proximal Esophageal Atresia With Distal Tracheoesophageal Fistula Repair

Esophageal atresia is a congenital condition requiring surgical intervention. The most common configuration is Gross type C, proximal EA with distal TEF (EA/TEF). The operation for type C includes tracheoesophageal fistula closure and esophageal anastomosis creation. Although mortality has markedly decreased since the operation was first described, overall complication rate remains at 62%, with the most common complication being anastomotic stricture, 43%.

During the creation of esophageal anastomosis, two common practices are to either use or not use a transanastomtic tube (TT) across the anastomosis. However the utility and benefits of TT have not been validated. A recent retrospective analysis by the Midwestern Pediatric Surgical Research Consortium identified anastomotic stricture to be the most common postoperative complications (43%). On univariate analysis, only utilization of a TT was significantly associated with strictures (p=0.013). On multivariate analysis after adjusting for both pre and perioperative variables, TT use remained significant with an odd ratio (OR) of 1.91 (p=0.04).

Given the inherent limitations and biases of retrospective analysis, there is a critical need for a prospective multi-institutional study to validate this finding. The Western Pediatric Surgical Research Consortium (WPSRC) consists of 10 children's hospitals including Phoenix Children's Hospital, Doernbecher Children's Hospital, Primary Children's Hospital, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Seattle Children's Hospital, Colorado Children's Hospital, Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, Rady Children's Hospital, Benioff Children's Hospital, and Children's Medical Center Dallas. The WPSRC will conduct a prospective randomized control trial comparing the effects of TT use. Target enrollment is 150. One group of patients will receive TTs and another group of patients will not receive TTs. We hypothesize that the use of TT will result in increased anastomotic stricture formation. Primary outcome is symptomatic anastomotic stricture requiring dilation within 12 months.

Inclusion criteria

• Infants diagnosed with type C esophageal atresia: proximal esophageal atresia and distal tracheoesophageal fistula
• Primary repair of the esophageal atresia within the first six months of life
• Minimum follow up of 1 year (12 months)

Exclusion criteria

• Other types of esophageal atresia without esophageal anastomosis creation
• Major anomaly that influences likelihood of developing primary outcome or affects surgical treatment considerations