Long-term prognosis of successfully operated oesophageal atresia-with aspects on physical and psychological development.

From 1966 to 1973, 43 oesophageal atresia patients with no other significant anomalies underwent successful anastomosis. The late mortalities of the 5 patients were due to the complications of gastro-oesophageal reflux and tracheal problems. These deaths and all the serious complications occurred before the age of 3 years. The survivors were followed up for a mean of 12.7 years and 34 of the 38 long-term survivors were re-examined by the author. The subjective results of the remaining 4 patients were obtained by means of a questionnaire. The results, according to Desjardins et al, were: "excellent" 31, "good" 6 and, "fair" 1. The growth of the patients was normal and the majority of them also possessed normal intelligence and body image. Oesophagograms revealed pathological peristalsis in every patient but only 1 of them demonstrated a somewhat narrowed anastomosis. Very few patients, however, complained of symptoms arising from the abnormal motility of the oesophagus. The long-term prognosis and the quality of life of oesophageal atresia patients seems good after the frequent problems which might occur in the early years have been overcome.