Treatment and Outcome for Children with Esophageal Atresia from a Gender Perspective

Background Besides the incidence of esophageal atresia (EA) being higher in males, no other gender-specific differences in EA have been reported. The aim of this study was to search for gender-specific differences in EA. Methods A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary center for pediatric surgery. The medical charts of infants born with EA were reviewed. 20 girls were identified, and 20 boys were selected as matched controls with respect to concomitant malformations. Their treatment and outcome were evaluated. Results Polyhydramnios was more common in pregnancies with boys, 40%, versus girls, 10%, with EA (p < 0.01). In total, 36 (90%) children had patent ductus arteriosus, without any gender difference (18 and 18, resp., p=1). The distribution of days at the different levels of care was not equally distributed between boys and girls. Boys with EA had significantly more postoperative days (median 5 days) in the ward than girls (median 5 and 2 days, resp., p=0.04). No other gender-specific differences in surgical treatment, complications, or symptoms at follow-up were identified. Conclusion Polyhydramnios appears to be more frequent in pregnancies with boys than girls with EA. In this study, boys have longer stays than girls at the pediatric surgery ward.