MANAGEMENT OF THE ISOLATED CONGENITAL TRACHEOESOPHAGEAL FISTULA

Over a ten-year period sixteen infants with isolated congenital trache o-oesophageal fistulas (TOF) were treated. AU infants were symptomatic from birth although the diagnosis was only established in the neonata l period in eleven cases. Tube oesophagography was the diagnostic inve stigation of choice. Bronchoscopic cannulation of the fistula greatly assisted division, which was achieved through a cervical incision in a ll cases. There were two early recurrent fistulas both of which closed spontaneously. Persistent oesophageal symptoms mere common. Seven of the patients (43 %) experienced dysphagia, three of whom developed oes ophageal strictures requiring repeated dilatation.