• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.637-639
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• 1995

Congenital esophageal anomaly with or without tracheoesophageal fistula was rare congenital disease.We experienced 6 cases of congenital esophageal atresia, with tracheoesophageal fistula [5 cases and one esophageal atresia without fistula, were treated in the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kangnam Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym university, from May, 1992 to July, 1994. The type of four cases were upper blind pouch and lower tracheo or broncho esophageal fistula and one case H-type fistula with no esophageal atresia, and the one case was esophageal atresia without fistula. We performed modified Haight`s method, one case was primary closure with feeding gastrostomy and stomach interposition. Three were died due to respiratory failure on 7 and 9th postoperative days.Three were recovered uneventfully.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.253-258
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• 1985

The congenital tracheoesophageal fistula without atresia of the esophagus is considered a rare variant, and the literature concerned to the tracheoesophageal fistula without atresia, is little in adult especially. The 22-year-old male was admitted to Yeungnam University Hospital with his chief complaints of weight loss (6kg/6 months), abdominal discomfort, and intermittent coughing. The diagnosis was made by the endoscopy and esophagography. The fistula was 1.5cm in diameter, 0.5cm in length. The level was around second thoracic vertebra. The operation was performed transpleurally through the right third intercostal space and the fistula was secured with interrupted silk suture after division. The fibrotic adhesion was seen around the tracheoesophageal fistula. The postoperative course was uneventful, and postoperative esophagogram revealed ho extraluminal leakage. Herewith we report this unusual case of isolated tracheo-esophageal fistula with review of literatures.

• Korean Journal of Bronchoesophagology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.90-95
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• 2000

Isolated(H-type) tracheoesophageal fistula without esophageal atresia occurs in approximately 4% of esophageal anomalies, and represents the least form of abnormal laryngotracheo-esophageal communication. Its symptoms such as coughing and choking The during the feeding, abdominal distension and recurrent pneumonitis usually start from birth. Diagnosis is made between 4 days to 4 years using the contrast esophagography and/or tracheoscopy. In case of diagnostic delay the postoperative mortality is not negligible and the most common cause of mortality is respitatory problems(infection, respiratory distress). So early diagnosis is essential in the newborn period with high index of suspicion. We report a case of H-type TEF in which operative repair was successful with references to recent literature.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.892-895
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• 2008

H-type tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is extremely rare in infants and children, and clinical manifestations of this condition are diverse based on its severity. Some cases of congenital TEF diagnosed in adulthood have been reported, which indicate the difficulty of early diagnosis of this disease. Gastroesophageal reflux (GER) may induce chronic aspiration, pulmonary aspiration, apparent life-threatening events, and failure to thrive. We report a 5-month-old boy whose recurrent pneumonia and wheezing did not improve under usual treatment and led to acute respiratory distress syndrome. He was found to have severe GER on the second-trial of the esophagogram and was eventually revealed to have congenital H-type TEF upon repeated evaluation.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.154-161
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• 2011

Tracheoesophageal fistula without esophageal atresia (H-type TEF) is a congenital anomaly that is characterized by a fistula between the posterior wall of the trachea and the anterior wall of the esophagus, not accompanied by esophageal atresia. The purpose of this study is to investigate the clinical characteristics, diagnostic time, the side of cervical approach and short term result after surgery by searching medical records of patients treated for H-type TEF. The search was done at University of Ulsan, Department of Pediatric Surgery of Asan Medical Center, and the total number of patients from May 1989 to December 2010 was 9 with M:F ratio of 1:2. The median gestational age was $39^{+6}$ ($32^{+6}{\sim}41^{+0}$) wks. Seven out of nine patients were born at term and the other two were born premature. The clinical presentation was aspiration pneumonia, difficulty in feeding, chronic cough, vomiting, abdominal distension and growth retardation. The symptoms presented right after birth. The diagnosis was made with esophagography and the median time of diagnosis was 52 days of life. The majority of surgical corrections were performed within two weeks of diagnosis (median; 15d, range; 1d - 6m). Six patients had associated anomalies, and cardiac anomalies were most common. The cervical approach was utilized in all cases (right 2, left 7). Transient vocal cord palsy and minor esophageal leakage complicated two cases. Although the diagnosis of H-type TEF was difficult and often delayed, we had a good short term result. The left cervical approach was preferred.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.149-161
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• 1995

The first national survey on esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula was conducted to access the current status of its incidence, clinical manifestation, preoperative diagnosis and management, type of its anomaly, associated anomalies, and surgical results and course. The 43 members of the Korea Association of Pediatric Surgeons received questionnaires and registration forms to be filled out on each patient who were born during the three years from January 1, 1992 through December 31, 1994. Questionnaires composed of six broad areas which include 1) preoperative diagnosis and management, 2) surgical technic, 3) long gap, 4) postoperative management, and 5) complications and courses. A total of 148 cases was returned by 28 members working at 23 institutions and 27 members returned questionnaires. We obtained the following results by analysis of the 148 cases of tracheoesophageal anomalies. The incidence of tracheoesophageal anomaly was about 1/10,000-11,000 in 1994, which is one third of that of anorectal malformations in Korea and the distribution of the patients was almost proportionate to the size of each province. Both sexes are about equally affected. Majority of the members make diagnosis of tracheoesophageal anomaly by taking a simple infantogram with a radiopaque tube in upper pouch and a little under half(46%) prefers to perform echocardiography as a part of preoperative management to identify congenital heart disease and lateralize the aorta. Esophageal atresia with distal TEF(87.5%) was by far the most common and there were pure esophageal atresia(5.6%), H-type TEF(2.1%), and so on. About half(49%) of the patients had one or more associated anomalies in addition to tracheoesophageal anomalies. Congenital heart disease was associated in 46 cases(31%), anorectral malfomations in 19 cases(13%), musculoskeletal anomalies in 15 cases(10%), genitourinary anomalies in 10 cases(7%) and gastrointestinal anomalies in 7 cases(5%). Postoperatively, parenteral nutrition and assisted ventilation were given in 66% and 52% of patients respectively. Ninety three(74%) of 126 cases who underwent sugical procedure, experienced one or more complications such as respiratory complication(65%), leak(22%), stricture(21%) and so on. The survival rates related to the Waterston risk categories were 90.2% in group A, 71.4-75% in $B_1$, $B_2$, and $C_1$, groups, and 28% in group $C_2$, and the overall survival rate was 71.4%. Thirty six(28.6%) of 126 cases died of pneumonia/sepsis(12 cases), respiratory failure(12 cases), and congenital heart disease(4 cases). With short term follow-up, 69% of patients have been excellent whereas remainders of the cases have suffered from some sort of morbidity related to gastroesophageal reflux, recurrent respiratory infection, and esophageal stricture.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.6-11
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• 2003

This study reviews 14 years' experience treating esophageal atresia with special emphasis on the clinical profile and outcome. From May 1989 to February 2003, 65 cases of esophageal atresia (EA) were treated at Asan Medical Center. Boys outnumbered girls 2.4 to 1. Prematutity and low birth weight were 27.7% and 38.5%. Esophageal atresia with distal tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) was the most common type (87.7%), followed by pure EA and H type fistula. Forty-six patients (70.8%) had one or more associated anomalies, cardiac malformations were the most common. Duodenal atresia was found in 7 cases. There were 6 patients (9.2 %) with VATER cluster. VACTERL cluster was present in 18 patients (27.7%), one of who fulfilled the complete syndrome. Waterston group A, B and C made up 21.5%, 40.0% and 38.5% of the total group. Surgical treatment was attempted in 63 patients and deferred in 2 who had severe associated malformations. For EA with distal TEF, primary esophago esophagostomy was carried out in 51 cases, and division of TEF and gastrostomy in 4 cases and no operation in 2 cases. For pure EA, colonic graft was done in 2 after gastrostomy and esophagostomy, and esophago esophagostomy was performed in 2 after gastrostomy. Two patients with pure EA are waiting for the second operation after gastrostomy. Division of TEF was carried out in 2 cases with H type TEF. The overall survival rate was 76.9%, and survival by Waterston classification was 100% in group A, 80.8% in B and 60.0% in C. Thorough workup for associated anomalies, interdepartmental approach and more careful surgical decision and technique are required to improve the outcome of EA.