Abstract
Aim: Controversies exist on the optimal diagnostic workup for neonates with esophageal atresia (EA) with/without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). Aim of this study was to describe the current diagnostic policies in EA/TEF patients enrolled in an International multicenter registry.Methods: All patients consecutively registered from July 2014 to December 2017 in the EUPSA Esophageal Atresia Registry (EUPSA-EAR) were included in the study. Data related to diagnostic investigations among Centers forming the EUPSA-EAR were analyzed.Main Results: During the study period, 374 consecutive patients were recorded by 23 Centers. The majority of patients underwent chest X-rays, echocardiography, abdominal ultrasound, and abdominal X-rays. Preoperative bronchoscopy and esophageal gap measurement were performed in one third of the patients.Conclusions: Present data from a large cohort of patients from the EUPSA-EAR show both inter-institutional and intra-institutional variability in diagnostic workup of patients with EA/TEF. Efforts should be made to develop guidelines on the diagnostic workup for EA/TEF patients.
Highlights
In 1974, Myers described esophageal atresia (EA) with/without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) as “the epitome of modern surgery” [1] representing the compendium of all distinct features of pediatric surgery
The aim of this study was to analyze the current diagnostic policies in EA/TEF patients enrolled in the first international multicenter registry dedicated to EA/TEF and to describe inter-institutional and intra-institutional variability in such policies
The European Paediatric Surgeons’ Association Esophageal Atresia Registry (EUPSA-EAR; http://eupsa-registry.org/ registry) is a voluntary international collaboration born in 2014 to collect data on infants with EA/TEF managed at participating Institutions
Summary
In 1974, Myers described esophageal atresia (EA) with/without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) as “the epitome of modern surgery” [1] representing the compendium of all distinct features of pediatric surgery. With such a binding definition, it may be expected that four decades later the management of EA/TEF was well-defined and coded. Most of the recent studies that collected multicenter data on the management of patients with EA/TEF focused predominantly on operative approach and outcomes [2,3,4,5,6,7,8]. The aim of this study was to analyze the current diagnostic policies in EA/TEF patients enrolled in the first international multicenter registry dedicated to EA/TEF and to describe inter-institutional and intra-institutional variability in such policies
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
