Demographic characteristics in patients with short-gap and long-gap esophageal atresia: a comparative study

Abstract

Background The knowledge of the size of the gap between esophageal ends in esophageal atresia (EA) before surgery is of clinical importance. The aim of this study was to compare the demographic characteristics between patients with short-gap esophageal atresia (SGEA) and long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA).
Patients and methods Medical records of all patients managed for EA spectrum in our department between 2003 and 2012 were evaluated, retrospectively. Demographic data included the maternal age, the number of parities and deliveries, the presence of polyhydramnios and the prenatal diagnosis, sex, the gestational age and prematurity, the type of delivery and the birth weight, age at the time of diagnosis and treatment, the presence of associated anomalies including VACTERL-type and non- VACTERL-type anomalies, the type of EA according to Gross classification, and discrepancies between the diameters of atretic esophageal ends. SGEA and LGEA were defined as a gap of less than three vertebral bodies or three or more vertebral bodies in length between the atretic esophageal ends, respectively.
Results There were 99 patients treated for the diagnosis of EA spectrum during the study period: 81 in the SGEA group and 18 in the LGEA group. Most of the parameters studied did not differ between the two groups. Type-C EA was more prevalent in patients with SGEA (n= 77/81) and type-A was more frequent in children with LGEA (n= 8/18) (P < 0.05). The frequency of prenatal diagnosis (2.5% for SGEA vs. 22.2% for LGEA) was more common in the LGEA group (P < 0.05). Cesarean section compared with normal vaginal delivery was more commonly seen in both groups (56.8% for SGEA vs. 66.7% for LGEA).
Conclusion Most of the demographic parameters were similar between the two groups of patients. However, the frequency of prenatal diagnosis was more common in patients with LGEA. Most of the patients in both groups were delivered by a cesarean section. Type-C EA was more prevalent in patients with SGEA and type-A was more frequent in children with LGEA. Further analysis of this topic is warranted and may be beneficial in revealing the true demographic differences between patients with SGEA and LGEA.