Does primary posterior tracheopexy prevent collapse of the trachea in newborns with oesophageal atresia and tracheomalacia? A study protocol for an international, multicentre randomised controlled trial (PORTRAIT trial).

Introduction: Tracheomalacia (TM) often occurs in children with oesophageal atresia (OA), leading to recurrent respiratory symptoms and in severe cases to blue spells or ultimately respiratory arrest. In some patients, a secondary posterior tracheopexy may then be indicated. This secondary surgery, as well as respiratory morbidity, may be prevented by performing a primary posterior tracheopexy (PPT) concurrent with primary OA correction.

International perspective of injection laryngoplasty for laryngeal cleft - A survey study.

Objectives: Laryngeal Cleft (LC) is an anatomical defect that can cause swallowing difficulties and subsequent recurrent respiratory symptoms. LC can be treated surgically by performing suture repair or by Injection Laryngoplasty (IL). The indications and efficacy of IL are debated among pediatric otolaryngologists.

Graft dilatation and Barrett's esophagus in adults after gastric pull-up and jejunal interposition for long-gap esophageal atresia.

Background: Esophageal replacement (ER) with gastric pull-up (GPU) or jejunal interposition (JI) used to be the standard treatment for long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA). Changes of the ER grafts on a macro- and microscopic level however, are unknown.

Aim: To evaluate long-term clinical symptoms and anatomical and mucosal changes in adolescents and adults after ER for LGEA.

Airway Epithelial Cultures of Children with Esophageal Atresia as a Model to Study Respiratory Tract Disorders.

Esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare birth defect in which respiratory tract disorders are a major cause of morbidity. It remains unclear whether respiratory tract disorders are in part caused by alterations in airway epithelial cell functions such as the activity of motile cilia. This can be studied using airway epithelial cell culture models of patients with EA.

Bacterial Colonization of the Lower Airways in Children With Esophageal Atresia.

Background: Esophageal atresia (EA) is most often accompanied by some degree of tracheomalacia (TM), which negatively influences the airway by ineffective clearance of secretions. This can lead to lower airway bacterial colonization (LABC), which may cause recurrent respiratory tract infections (RTIs). This study aims to evaluate the prevalence and specific pathogens of LABC in EA patients.

Safety and Feasibility of Indocyanine Green Fluorescence Angiography in Pediatric Gastrointestinal Surgery: A Systematic Review.

Background: Although ICG-FA may be valuable in assessing anastomotic perfusion, reliable data on its use in pediatric gastrointestinal surgery is lacking. This systematic review analyzes whether ICG is useful for intestinal perfusion assessment in pediatric gastrointestinal surgery and safe to use in neonates.

Methods: Systematic searches of PubMed, EMBASE & MEDLINE and CENTRAL were performed (last conducted December 6, 2021).

Primary Posterior Tracheopexy in Esophageal Atresia Decreases Respiratory Tract Infections.

Esophageal atresia (EA) is often accompanied by tracheomalacia (TM). TM can lead to severe respiratory complaints requiring invasive treatment. This study aims to evaluate if thoracoscopic primary posterior tracheopexy (PPT) can prevent the potential sequelae of TM in patients with EA.

Thoracoscopic Repair of Esophageal Atresia.

Esophageal atresia (EA) is a rare congenital malformation of the esophagus. Surgical treatment is required to restore the continuity of the esophagus. This can be performed through thoracotomy.

Childhood outcome after correction of long-gap esophageal atresia by thoracoscopic external traction technique.

Background: Thoracoscopic external traction technique (TTT) is a relatively new surgical intervention for patients with long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) that preserves the native esophagus. The major accomplishment with TTT is that esophageal repair can be achieved within days after birth. This study evaluates the childhood outcome in LGEA patients treated with TTT, including gastrointestinal outcome, nutritional status and Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL).

Five-Year Outcome of Laparoscopic Fundoplication in Pediatric GERD Patients: a Multicenter, Prospective Cohort Study.

Background: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a common disease in children. When drug treatment fails, laparoscopic anti-reflux surgery (LARS) is considered. Short-term follow-up studies report high success rates; however, few studies report long-term results.

ERNICA Consensus Conference on the Management of Patients with Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia: Perioperative, Surgical, and Long-Term Management.

Introduction:  Evidence supporting best practice for long-gap esophageal atresia is limited. The European Reference Network for Rare Inherited Congenital Anomalies (ERNICA) organized a consensus conference on the management of patients with long-gap esophageal atresia based on expert opinion referring to the latest literature aiming to provide clear and uniform statements in this respect.

Materials And Methods:  Twenty-four ERNICA representatives from nine European countries participated.

Health-related quality of life in children after laparoscopic gastrostomy placement.

Introduction: A gastrostomy placement (GP) is an established treatment to provide enteral feeding in pediatric patients with feeding difficulties aiming to improve nutritional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The aim of this study was to evaluate HRQoL in children with severe feeding difficulties who have undergone GP.

Materials And Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed including 128 patients who had undergone laparoscopic GP (2004-2011).

The Effect of Gastrostomy Placement on Health-Related Quality of Life in Children.

Background And Purpose: A gastrostomy placement (GP) aims to improve nutritional status and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children who require long-term enteral tube feeding. We evaluated the effect of GP on HRQoL.

Methods: A prospective, longitudinal cohort study was performed including patients referred for laparoscopic GP.

Error traps and culture of safety in esophageal atresia repair.

Esophageal atresia (EA) repair has always been a source of immense professional gratification for the pediatric surgeon. In many ways, this anomaly defines the entire profession. Due to its rarity, there is an increased risk of inadvertent events occurring during correction.

Evaluation of a new robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgical system for procedures in small cavities.

No data exists concerning the application of a new robotic system with 3-mm instruments (Senhance™, Transenterix, Milano, Italy) in small cavities. Therefore, the aim of this study was to test the system for its performance of intracorporal suturing in small boxes simulating small body cavities. Translucent plastic boxes of decreasing volumes (2519-90 ml) were used.

Thoracoscopic posterior tracheopexy during primary esophageal atresia repair: a new approach to prevent tracheomalacia complications.

Background: Esophageal atresia (EA) is usually accompanied by some form of tracheomalacia (TM). During the early phases in life, excessive dynamic collapse of the trachea can cause a wide spectrum of symptoms ranging from mild complaints to apparent life-threatening events (ALTE's) or brief resolved unexplained events (BRUE's). Therapeutic strategies for severe TM include aortopexy to lift the anterior weakened cartilaginous rings or posterior tracheopexy of the floppy membranous tracheal intrusion.

Esophageal Atresia and Upper Airway Pathology.

Esophageal atresia is an anomaly with frequently occurring sequelae requiring lifelong management and follow-up. Because of the complex issues that can be encountered, patients with esophageal atresia preferably should be managed in centers of expertise that have the ability to deal with all types of anomalies and sequelae and can perform rigorous lifelong follow-up. Tracheomalacia is an often-occurring concurrent anomaly that may cause acute life-threatening events and may warrant immediate management.

Esophageal atresia and tracheo-esophageal fistula.

Management of esophageal atresia has merged from correction of the anomaly to the complete spectrum of management of esophageal atresia and all its sequelae. It is the purpose of this article to give an overview of all aspects involved in taking care of patients with esophageal atresia between January 2011 and June 2016, as well as the patients who were referred from other centers. Esophageal atresia is a complex anomaly that has many aspects that have to be dealt with and complications to be solved.

Brain Oxygenation During Thoracoscopic Repair of Long Gap Esophageal Atresia.

Background: Elongation and repair of long gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) can be performed thoracoscopically, even directly after birth. The effect of thoracoscopic CO-insufflation on cerebral oxygenation (rScO) during the consecutive thoracoscopic procedures in repair of LGEA was evaluated.

Methods: Prospective case series of five infants, with in total 16 repetitive thoracoscopic procedures.

Neonatal brain oxygenation during thoracoscopic correction of esophageal atresia.

Background: Little is known about the effects of carbon dioxide (CO2) insufflation on cerebral oxygenation during thoracoscopy in neonates. Near-infrared spectroscopy can measure perioperative brain oxygenation [regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rScO2)].

Aims: To evaluate the effects of CO2 insufflation on rScO2 during thoracoscopic esophageal atresia (EA) repair.

Brain oxygenation during laparoscopic correction of hypertrophic pyloric stenosis.

Background: Concern remains about the safety of carbon dioxide (CO2) pneumoperitoneum (PP) in young infants having surgery for pyloric stenosis via laparoscopy. Interests here mainly focus on possible jeopardized organ perfusion and in particular brain oxygenation with possible adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the intraoperative effects of CO2 gas PP on cerebral oxygenation during laparoscopic surgery for hypertrophic pyloric stenosis in young infants.

Thoracoscopic traction technique in long gap esophageal atresia: entering a new era.

Objective: To describe the evolution from delayed management of long gap esophageal atresia to thoracoscopic treatment directly after birth without the placement of a gastrostomy.

Background: Long gap esophageal atresia remains a challenge for pediatric surgeons. Over the years, several techniques have been described to deal with the problem of the distance between the proximal and distal esophagus.