Congenital Atresia of the Oesophagus:A Follow-up Study in 36 Surgically Corrected Cases

Abstract

A review is presented of 36 patients with oeso-phageal atresia with or without tracheo-oesophageal fistula. Three theories regarding the origin of the fistulas are briefly discussed. the clinical manifestations and treatment are reviewed. All the patients are alive 11 to 24 years postoper-atively. the follow-up examination included clinical evaluation, manometric pressure recordings and X-ray investigation of the oesophagus. Dysphagia occurred in patients with moderate or severe oesophageal stenosis. Motility disorder in the oesophagus may represent an additional cause of dysphagia. the relationship between the dysphagia and the oesophageal motility disorder is briefly discussed.