Esophageal atresia with and without tracheoesophageal fistula: a 2016-2024 single-center cohort study in Saudi Arabia stratified by gap length.

OBJECTIVE

To describe phenotype, perioperative events, and early morbidity among infants with esophageal atresia with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF), and to evaluate how gap length relates to postoperative and follow-up outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective single-center cohort study was conducted in a tertiary neonatal and pediatric surgery service, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. All infants with EA/TEF managed between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2024. Clinical data include early clinical anastomotic leak (≤14 days), recurrent fistula, anastomotic stricture and time-to-event outcomes including hospital length of stay, time to full oral feeding, duration of postoperative ventilation and duration of parenteral nutrition. Follow-up outcomes included respiratory morbidity and feeding support requirements.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven infants were included; gross type C was most frequent (73.1%). Gap length was assessable in 63 non-H-type cases, with 31.7% classified as long-gap EA. Survival to discharge was 86% after excluding three trisomy 18 infants managed palliatively. Primary repair was achieved in 67.2% overall but in only 10% of long-gap infants, among whom staged repair or gastric pull-up predominated. Early anastomotic leak occurred in 26.9%, recurrent fistula in 14.9% and anastomotic stricture in 32.8%. In multivariable logistic regression, long-gap EA was the only independent predictor of stricture (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 4.44; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.27 to 15.55; p=0.020). Recovery was substantially longer for long-gap infants: median hospital stay 186 vs. 53 days (p<0.001) and time to full oral feeding 209 vs. 29 days (p<0.001). At follow-up (n=55), 34.5% required gastrostomy, 20% had feeding aversion, 36.4% experienced recurrent respiratory infections, and 10.9% had tracheomalacia.

CONCLUSIONS

Gap length was the principal determinant of anastomotic stricture and prolonged recovery after EA/TEF repair. These data provide a baseline for ongoing quality improvement and support early referral of long-gap cases to specialized multidisciplinary centers with structured follow-up programs.