Congenital airway anomalies and syndromes associated in newborns with esophageal atresia

Objective

This study aims to define the associated comorbidities, syndromes and anatomic findings in newborns with esophageal atresia using bronchoscopy.

Method

Retrospective analysis of the database was performed on patients that underwent surgery with esophageal atresia or tracheoesophageal fistula diagnosis between 2016 and 2023 in Dr. Luis Calvo Mackenna Children´s Hospital in whom an airway study was done with rigid laryngotracheoscopy. Demographic data, comorbidities and airway anomalies were registered.

Results

Data from 37 patients was analyzed. Comorbidities were present in 62.1 % of the patients. Airway anomalies such as tracheomalacia, laryngomalacia, tracheal diverticulum, congenital tracheal stenosis and cleft were present in 56.75 % of the patients. 72.9 % of the patients had Type C EA and in 32.4 % of the cases tracheoesophageal fistula was located at the carina.

Conclusion

In the last 7 years we have done an airway study in 82.2 % of newborns with esophageal atresia. There is a high percentage of patients with airway anomalies, therefore we consider the importance of performing an endoscopic airway study in all patients with EA.