ESOPHAGEAL ATRESIA - MORTALITY AND COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX

Low birthweight and associated anomalies are important risk factors in patients with esophageal atresia. Gastroesophageal reflux is also a c ommon problem in these patients and can lead to serious complications. The aim of this retrospective study was to analyse complications and mortality in 110 patients treated for esophageal atresia between Janua ry 1971 - December 1987, in order to determine what role reflux may. S ymptoms of reflux were common in most patients during the first years of life. In some cases the symptoms were serious and even caused some late deaths by aspiration. The overall mortality was 12 % (13/110). Ea rly mortality (six patients) was caused by prematurity and associated anomalies, whereas late mortality often was caused by aspiration or ot her respiratory complications. Patients who had been operated with a c ircular myotomy showed more complications, but did not show a higher m ortality rate than the remainder. This study confirms the importance o f identifying patients with reflux at an early stage in order to preve nt serious complications and mortality.