[Tissue adhesives in closing of fistulas after surgery of esophageal atresia].

AIMS: Recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula is a severe postoperative complication after esophageal atresia repair. Endoscopic obliteration with tissue adhesives has been used as an alternative to reoperation. The aim of this study is to review our experience with such procedure.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

The medical records of 415 esophageal atresia patients were retrospectively reviewed in order to analyze the incidence of complications and the outcome of patients in whom tissue adhesives were used to close a recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula.

RESULTS

334 patients underwent an esophageal anastomosis and fistula closure or fistula division alone, 41 (12.3%) of them had recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula. In eight of these patients and one having an H type tracheoesophageal fistula, endoscopic obliteration using tissue adhesives was attempted. None of these nine children cured after this procedure and all required an open procedure for their recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula.

CONCLUSIONS

Contrary to some published cases, we have not succeeded with endoscopic obliteration of recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula using tissue adhesives; therefore, we do not recommend this treatment.