Categorization and repair of recurrent and acquired tracheoesophageal fistulae occurring after esophageal atresia repair.

Purpose: Recurrent trachea-esophageal fistula (recTEF) is a frequent (5%-10%) complication of congenital TEF (conTEF) and esophageal atresia (EA) repair. In addition, postoperative acquired TEF (acqTEF) can occur in addition to or even in the absence of prior conTEF in the setting of esophageal anastomotic complications. Reliable repair often proves difficult by endoluminal or standard surgical techniques.

Jejunal Interposition after Failed Esophageal Atresia Repair.

Background: The early outcomes of using jejunal interpositions to establish esophageal continuity in patients who have had a failed repair of esophageal atresia (EA) were determined.

Study Design: This was a retrospective review of all patients treated at our institution with a jejunal interposition after a failed EA repair from 2010 to 2015. Demographics, anatomy encountered, operative techniques, requirement for microvascular support, and length of stay were analyzed.

Foker process for the correction of long gap esophageal atresia: Primary treatment versus secondary treatment after prior esophageal surgery.

Purpose: The Foker process (FP) uses tension-induced growth for primary esophageal reconstruction in patients with long gap esophageal atresia (LGEA). It has been less well described in LGEA patients who have undergone prior esophageal reconstruction attempts.

Methods: All cases of LGEA treated at our institution from January 2005 to April 2014 were retrospectively reviewed.

Direct tracheobronchopexy to correct airway collapse due to severe tracheobronchomalacia: Short-term outcomes in a series of 20 patients.

Purpose: Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM) is associated with esophageal atresia, tracheoesophageal fistulas, and congenital heart disease. TBM results in chronic cough, poor mucous clearance, and recurrent pneumonias. Apparent life-threatening events or recurrent pneumonias may require surgery.

Surgical approaches to aortopexy for severe tracheomalacia.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the outcomes among three different surgical approaches for performing an aortopexy to treat severe tracheomalacia (STM).

Methods: A retrospective review was performed for all patients who underwent an aortopexy by pediatric surgeons at a single institution during 1997-2012. Data collected included details of the operative approaches and clinical results.

Two-ventricle repairs in the unbalanced atrioventricular canal defect spectrum with midterm follow-up.

Objectives: Unbalanced atrioventricular (AV) canal defects include a hypoplastic ventricle (HV) and AV valve (HAVV) precluding complete 2-ventricle repairs (2VRs). Catch-up growth would solve this problem and was induced by increasing HAVV flow. The objectives were to assess reliability of HV and HAVV growth and provide 5- to 15-year 2VR follow-up.

Surgical advances in the fetus and neonate: esophageal atresia.

This article focuses on selected topics in the diagnosis and management of patients with esophageal atresia (EA) with or without tracheoesophageal fistula. The current status of prenatal diagnosis and recent advances in surgical techniques, including thoracoscopic repair for short-gap EA and tension-induced esophageal growth for long-gap EA, are reviewed. Although no consensus exists among pediatric surgeons regarding the role of these procedures in the treatment of EA, one can reasonably expect that, as they evolve, their application will become more widespread in this challenging patient population.

Mitral and tricuspid valve repair and growth in unbalanced atrial ventricular canal defects.

Objective: Congenital mitral and tricuspid valve abnormalities in unbalanced atrioventricular canal defects are complex. We designed procedures to both repair and induce growth of hypoplastic atrioventricular valves and ventricles to achieve 2-ventricle repairs. Midterm data were assessed for reliability of catch-up growth, resulting quality of atrioventricular valves, and adequacy of 2-ventricle repairs.

Esophageal stenting in children: indications, application, effectiveness, and complications.

Background: Use of esophageal stents is uncommon in children, and there are few reports. We report the first experience in predominantly small children and infants with retrievable, flexible stents designed for tracheobronchial use.

Objective: Evaluation of initial experience with placement of esophageal stents for benign esophageal disorders in children.

Achievement of feeding milestones after primary repair of long-gap esophageal atresia.

Objectives: To determine the pattern of feeding milestones following primary repair of long-gap esophageal atresia (EA).

Method: A questionnaire based upon well established feeding milestones was used. Children after long-gap EA repair, n=40, were compared from after primary repair to healthy children from birth, n=102.

Long-gap esophageal atresia treated by growth induction: the biological potential and early follow-up results.

This study had two purposes. The first was to determine whether the growth procedure would allow true primary repairs of the most severe end of the esophageal atresia (EA) spectrum with the longest gaps (LG) and most rudimentary lower esophageal segments. The second goal was to provide the first short- to mid-term (3-12 years) follow-up data on the esophageal function and quality of life (QOL) data on the patients in this series.

Treatment of right ventricle to coronary artery connections in infants with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum.

Objective: At the severe end of the spectrum of infants with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum, the likelihood of significant right ventricle to coronary artery connections increases. Our purpose is to present the first series of right ventricle to coronary artery connections ligated off bypass before right ventricular decompression and to evaluate the consequences of this approach.

Methods: From 1988 to 2007, 19 patients with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum had a total of 69 right ventricle to coronary artery connections identified preoperatively, and 10 more were located intraoperatively.

Postoperative coagulopathy in a pediatric patient after exposure to bovine topical thrombin.

Severe postoperative coagulopathy developed in a child with congenital heart disease due to a factor V inhibitor from repetitive exposure to bovine topical thrombin. This case report alerts pediatric providers to consider these inhibitors when postoperative coagulopathy occurs. Potential treatment options are reviewed.

Use of high-resolution endoscopic ultrasonography to examine the effect of tension on the esophagus during primary repair of long-gap esophageal atresia.

Background: We have shown that tension applied to the esophageal pouches in long-gap esophageal atresia allows primary repair without necessity for intestinal or gastric transposition.

Objective: To determine whether the mural structure of the upper esophageal pouch is altered by tension.

Materials And Methods: We examined the esophagus with high-resolution endoscopic ultrasonography.

The effect of traction on esophageal structure in children with long-gap esophageal atresia.

We examined the esophageal structure in children who underwent traction to achieve primary repair of long-gap esophageal atresia. High-resolution ultrasound was used to compare thickness of the proximal and distal esophagus in children who had traction to achieve primary repair (n=15) to cases of esophageal atresia with shorter gaps that did not require traction (n=8). The muscularis propria of the upper esophagus was thicker in the traction compared to the non-traction group, though not statistically significant (respectively, 0.

A flexible approach to achieve a true primary repair for all infants with esophageal atresia.

Our purpose is to present our results using a flexible surgical approach to achieve a true primary repair for all infants with esophageal atresia (EA). The proposed methods are designed to reach this goal, even when most of the intrathoracic esophagus is missing. What has made this goal attainable is the ability to rapidly induce esophageal growth.