Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia Is a Unique Entity within the Esophageal Atresia Defect Spectrum

Jejunum for bridging long-gap esophageal atresia.

OBJECTIVE Exploring pros and cons of bridging long-gap esophageal atresia with an orthotopic jejunal pedicle graft. Retrospective series of 19 patients. METHODS From 1988 through 2005, 19 patients with long-gap esophageal atresia received a jejunal graft. Median age at reconstruction was 76 days. The technique involved an initial right-sided thoracotomy or thoracoscopy to confirm the diagnosi...

Is esophageal atresia a natural way of fasting?

Congenital Esophageal Stenosis Associated with Esophageal Atresia and Gasless Abdomen

SUMMARY A radiologically gasless abdomen in a neonate with EA is usually regarded as being pathognomonic of an absence of distal T.E.F. It has been estimated that up to 1.5% of patient with a distal fistula may have a radiologically gasless abdomens as a manifestation of a very small fistula plugged with mucus. In this case a contrast study via the gastrostomy demonstrated a fistula between th...

Lengthening technique for long gap esophageal atresia and early anastomosis.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE The treatment of long gap esophageal atresia remains a major surgical challenge. Whereas many approaches have been used for this problem, none are ideal. The authors used a technique originally described by Dr John E. Foker and accomplished early repair in 3 infants with long gap atresia. METHODS Three infants with esophageal atresia underwent thoracotomy shortly after birt...

Restoring esophageal continuity following a failed colonic interposition for long-gap esophageal atresia

The Foker process is a method of esophageal lengthening through axial tension-induced growth, allowing for subsequent primary reconstruction of the esophagus in esophageal atresia (EA). In this unique case, the Foker process was used to grow the remaining esophageal segment long enough to attain esophageal continuity following failed colonic interpositions for long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA)...