Oesophageal atresia--the touch stone of paediatric surgery.

Paediatric surgery has been grappling with oesophageal atresia with or without tracheo-oesophageal fistula for over 300 years. A very brief resume of the history of evolution of its treatment, anatomical types, clinical features and basic principles of treatment have been outlined. The immediate and long term complications have also been highlighted. The results of surgical treatment of this birth defect have tremendously improved in developed countries over last two decades, but the results in developing countries are yet to match that. The prevalent reasons for this discrepancy are also discussed.