P-42: The Influence of Congenital Heart Defects on Mid Term Outcomes of Esophageal Atresia Patients

Abstract

Major congenital heart defects (CHD) represent a significant risk factor predicting mortality in esophageal atresia (EA) infants. However, the influence of CHD in post-postoperative outcomes of patients with EA is poorly explored. Aim of the present study is to evaluate outcomes at mid term follow-up in AE patients in respect of CHD. Retrospective analysis of all EA infants treated between January 2008 and December 2012 was performed. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence of major CHD (requiring cardiac surgery). Mid term outcomes were compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis was performed with Fisher exact test and Mann-Whitney test, as appropriate (p < 0.05 was considered significant). During the study period 76 patients were prospectively treated and enrolled into our follow-up program. Mean follow-up period was 3, 2 y (1–6, 1 y). Table 1 summarized main results. Patients affected by EA and major CHD, even if experienced a more severe perinatal period, presented less esophageal stenosis requiring dilatations and re-do surgery in comparison with non-CHD EA infants. Since it is demonstrated that major CHD depends on collagen defects, this could explain the major “plasticity” of the esophagus in EA-CHD infants.