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.