@article {Hewe000190, author = {Nicole Lee Chui Hew and Zubin Grover and Sanjay Paida and Sanchita Gera and Rachel Zie Ting Effendy and Colin Kikiros and Parshotam Gera}, title = {Predictors of poor outcomes in children with tracheoesophageal fistula/oesophageal atresia: an Australian experience}, volume = {4}, number = {2}, elocation-id = {e000190}, year = {2021}, doi = {10.1136/wjps-2020-000190}, publisher = {BMJ Specialist Journals}, abstract = {Objective The aim of this study is to characterize long-term morbidities of oesophageal atresia (OA) with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (TOF).Methods Infants born with OA/TOF from 2000 to 2016 in Western Australia were included for analysis. Infants were categorized into high-risk and low-risk groups based on the presence of one or more perioperative risk factors [low birth weight, vertebraldefects, anal atresia, cardiac defects, TOF, renalanomalies, limb abnormalities (VACTERL), anastomotic leak, long gap OA, and failure to establish oral feeds within the first month] identified by a previous Canadian study. Frequency of morbidities in infants with perioperative risk factors was compared.Results Of 102 patients, 88 (86\%) had OA with distal TOF (type C). The most common morbidities in our cohort were anastomotic oesophageal strictures (AS) (n=53, 52\%), tracheomalacia (n=48, 47\%), gastroesophageal reflux disease (GORD) (n=42, 41\%) and recurrent respiratory tract infections (n=40, 39\%). Presence of GORD (30/59 vs 12/43, p=0.04) and median frequency of AS dilatations (8 vs 3, n=59, p=0.03) were greater in the high-risk group. This study further confirmed that inability to be fed orally within the first month was associated with high morbidities.Conclusions Gastrointestinal and respiratory morbidities remain high in OA/TOF regardless of perioperative risk factors. Inability to be fed orally within the first month is a predictor of poor outcomes with high frequency of gastrointestinal and respiratory comorbidities.All data relevant to the study are included in the article or uploaded as supplementary information.}, URL = {https://wjps.bmj.com/content/4/2/e000190}, eprint = {https://wjps.bmj.com/content/4/2/e000190.full.pdf}, journal = {World Journal of Pediatric Surgery} }