Pediatria Polska

Full text

2/2026 vol. 101
Review paper

Oesophageal atresia in newborns: diagnosis, treatment, and perioperative management: a systematic review

Kamila Szyda 1
,
Klaudia Lipowska 1
,
Weronika Mazurek 1
,
Agnieszka Malczyk 1
,
Zuzanna Cichowska 1
,
Natalia Wawrzeczko 1
,
Dorota Paluszyńska 2
,
Barbara Królak-Olejnik 2

  1. Students Scientific Club of Neonatology and Neonatal Intensive Care, Department and Clinic of Neonatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

  2. Department and Clinic of Neonatology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland

Pediatr Pol 2026; 101 (2): 146-153

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5114/polp.2026.162937
Data publikacji online: 2026/06/30
Article file
Oesophageal atresia.pdf
Confronting perimenopausal women’s knowledge of coronary heart disease with their health behaviours. Controversial role of hormone replacement therapy in the protection of coronary heart disease
  1. Van Lennep M, Singendonk MMJ, Dall’Oglio L, Gottrand F, Krishnan U, Terheggen-Lagro SWJ, et al. Oesophageal atresia. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2019; 5: 26.
  2. Yang S, Yang R, Ma X, Yang S, Peng Y, Tao Q, et al. Detail correction for Gross classification of esophageal atresia based on 434 cases in China. Chin Med J (Engl) 2021; 135: 485-487.
  3. Pedersen RN, Calzolari E, Husby S, Garne E. Oesophageal atresia: prevalence, prenatal diagnosis and associated anomalies in 23 European regions. Arch Dis Child 2012; 97: 227-232.
  4. Nassar N, Leoncini E, Amar E, Arteaga-Vázquez J, Bakker MK, Bower C, et al. Prevalence of esophageal atresia among 18 international birth defects surveillance programs. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 2012; 94: 893-899.
  5. Pardy C, D’Antonio F, Khalil A, Giuliani S. Prenatal detection of esophageal atresia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand 2019; 98: 689-699.
  6. Baldwin DL, Yadav D. Esophageal atresia. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls 2023.
  7. Spitz L. Oesophageal atresia. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2007; 2: 1-13.
  8. Ioannides AS, Henderson DJ, Spitz L, Copp AJ. Role of Sonic hedgehog in the development of the trachea and oesophagus. J Pediatr Surg 2003; 38: 29-36.
  9. Chen H, Li J, Li H, Hu Y, Tevebaugh W, Yamamoto M, et al. Transcript profiling identifies dynamic gene expression patterns and an important role for Nrf2/Keap1 pathway in the developing mouse esophagus. PLoS One 2012; 7: e36504.
  10. Orford J, Glasson M, Beasley S, Shi E, Myers N, Cass D. Oesophageal atresia in twins. Pediatr Surg Int 2000; 16: 541-545.
  11. Oddsberg J, Jia C, Nilsson E, Ye W, Lagergren J. Influence of maternal parity, age, and ethnicity on risk of esophageal atresia in the infant in a population-based study. J Pediatr Surg 2008; 43: 1660-1665.
  12. Bednarczyk D, Śmigiel R, Sąsiadek MM. The role of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of esophageal atresia and tracheo-esophageal fistula. Postepy Hig Med Dosw 2014.
  13. Oddsberg J, Lu Y, Lagergren J. Maternal diabetes and risk of esophageal atresia. J Pediatr Surg 2010; 45: 2004-2008.
  14. Lammer EJ, Cordero JF. Exogenous sex hormone exposure and the risk for major malformations. JAMA 1986; 255: 3128-3132.
  15. Ramírez A, Espinosa de los Monteros A, Parra A, de León B. Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula in two infants born to hyperthyroid women receiving methimazole (Tapazol) during pregnancy. Am J Med Genet 1992; 44: 200-202.
  16. Braz P, Machado A, Matias Dias C. The impact of prenatal diagnosis on congenital anomaly outcomes: Data from 1997 to 2016. Eur J Med Genet 2018; 61: 508-5012.
  17. Fontoura FC, Cardoso MVLML, Rodrigues SE, de Almeida PC, Carvalho LB. Anxiety of mothers of newborns with congenital malformations in the pre- and postnatal periods. Rev Lat Am Enfermagem 2018; 26: e3080.
  18. Spaggiari E, Faure G, Rousseau V, Sonigo P, Millischer-Bellaiche AE, Kermorvant-Duchemin E, et al. Performance of prenatal diagnosis in esophageal atresia. Prenat Diagn 2015; 35: 888-893.
  19. Brantberg A, Blaas H-GK, Haugen SE, Eik-Nes SH. Esophageal obstruction-prenatal detection rate and outcome. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2007; 30: 180-187.
  20. Dall’Asta A, Grisolia G, Nanni M, Volpe N, Schera GBL, Frusca T, et al. Sonographic demonstration of fetal esophagus using three- dimensional ultrasound imaging. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2019; 54: 746-751.
  21. Hochart V, Verpillat P, Langlois C, Garabedian C, Bigot J, Houfflin Debarge V, et al. The contribution of fetal MR imaging to the assessment of oesophageal atresia. Eur Radiol 2015; 25: 306-314.
  22. Castro P, Werner H, Matos APP, Macedo N, Marinho PRS, Araujo E. Dynamic study by magnetic resonance imaging in evaluation of fetal esophageal atresia. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 2020; 56: 949-951.
  23. Czerkiewicz I, Dreux S, Beckmezian A, Benachi A, Salomon LJ, Schmitz T, et al. Biochemical amniotic fluid pattern for prenatal diagnosis of esophageal atresia. Pediatr Res 2011; 70: 199-202.
  24. Baldwin DL, Yadav D. Esophageal Atresia. 2023 Jul 25. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls 2025.
  25. Lee S. Basic knowledge of tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia. Adv Neonatal Care 2018; 18: 14-21.
  26. Lal DR, Gadepalli SK, Downard CD, Ostlie DJ, Minneci PC, Swe- dler RM, et al. Perioperative management and outcomes of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula. J Pediatr Surg 2017; 52: 1245-1251.
  27. Gupta DK, Sharma S. Esophageal atresia: the total care in a high-risk population. Semin Pediatr Surg 2008; 17: 236-243.
  28. Alberti D, Boroni G, Corasaniti L, Torri F. Esophageal atresia: pre and post-operative management. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2011; 24: 4-6.
  29. Zhang Z, Huang Y, Su P, Wang D, Wang L. Experience in treating congenital esophageal atresia in China. J Pediatr Surg 2010; 45: 2009-2014.
  30. Dingemann C, Eaton S, Aksnes G, Bagolan P, Cross KM, De Coppi P, et al. ERNICA Consensus Conference on the Management of Patients with Long-Gap Esophageal Atresia: Perioperative, Surgical, and Long-Term Management. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2021; 31: 214-225.
  31. Tokarska K, Rogula W, Tokarz A, Tarsa M, Urban W, Górecki W. Guidelines for treatment of esophageal atresia in the light of most recent publications. Pol J Surg 2022; 95: 46-52.
  32. Houben CH, Curry JI. Current status of prenatal diagnosis, ope­rative management and outcome of esophageal atresia/tracheo- esophageal fistula. Prenat Diagn 2008; 28: 667-675.
  33. Dingemann C, Eaton S, Aksnes G, Bagolan P, Cross KM, De Coppi P, et al. ERNICA Consensus Conference on the Management of Patients with Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula: Diagnostics, Preoperative, Operative, and Postoperative Management. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2020; 30: 326-336.
  34. Drevin G, Andersson B, Svensson JF. Thoracoscopy or thoracotomy for esophageal atresia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Ann Surg 2021; 274: 945-953.
  35. González-Hernández J, Lugo-Vicente H. Esophageal atresia: new guidelines in management. Bol Asoc Med P R 2010; 102: 33-38.
  36. Tokarz A, Rogula W, Tokarska K, Tarsa M, Urban W, Zbroja K, et al. Adulthood of patients after oesophageal atresia repair – general surgeon’s guide. Pol J Surg 2021; 93: 1-5.
  37. Patkowski D. Thoracoscopic approach for oesophageal atresia: a real game changer? J Pediatr Surg 2023; 58: 204-208.
  38. Way C, Wayne C, Grandpierre V, Harrison BJ, Travis N, Nasr A. Thoracoscopy vs. thoracotomy for the repair of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula: a systematic review and meta- analysis. Pediatr Surg Int 2019; 35: 1167-1184.
  39. Tsao K, Lee H. Extrapleural thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula. Pediatr Surg Int 2005; 21: 308-310.
  40. Rothenberg SS. Thoracoscopic repair of tracheoesophageal fistula in newborns. J Pediatr Surg 2002; 37: 869-872.
  41. Penikis AB, Sescleifer AM, Kunisaki SM. Management of long-gap esophageal atresia. Transl Pediatr 2024; 13: 329-342.
  42. Penikis AB, Salvi PS, Sferra SR, Engwall-Gill A, Rhee D, Solomon D, et al. Delayed primary repair in 100 infants with isolated long-gap esophageal atresia: a nationwide analysis of children’s hospitals. Surgery 2023; 173: 1447-1451.
  43. Bagolan P, Valfrè L, Morini F, Conforti A. Long-gap esophageal atresia: traction-growth and anastomosis - before and beyond. Dis Esophagus 2013; 26: 372-379.
  44. Foker JE, Kendall TC, Catton K, Khan K. A flexible approach to achieve a true primary repair for all infants with esophageal atresia. Semin Pediatr Surg 2005; 14: 8-15.
  45. van der Zee DC, Gallo G, Tytgat SHA. Thoracoscopic traction technique in long gap esophageal atresia: entering a new era. Surg Endosc 2015; 29: 3324-3330.
  46. Bagolan P, Iacobelli BD, De Angelis P, Federici Di Abriola G, Leviani R, Trucchi A, et al. Long gap esophageal atresia and esophageal replacement: Moving toward a separation? J Pediatr Surg 2004; 39: 1084-1090.
  47. Rozensztrauch A, Pielęgniarstwa Pediatrycznego K, Nauk Zdro- wiu W, Śmigiel R, Patkowski D. Nursing care of a newborn with congenital esophageal atresia. Probl Pielęg 2015; 23: 251-258.
  48. Chiarenza SF, Conighi ML, Conforti A, Esposito C, Escolino M, Beretta F, et al. Guidelines of the Italian Society of Videosurgery in Infancy for the minimally invasive treatment of the esophageal atresia. Med Surg Pediatri 2019; 41.
  49. Tabari AK, Mirshemirani A, Rouzrokh M, Mohajerzadeh L, Ta- bari NK, Ghaffari P. Acute mediastinitis in children: a nine-year experience. Tanaffos 2013; 12: 48-52.
  50. Tovar J, Fragoso A. Gastroesophageal reflux after repair of esophageal atresia. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2013; 23: 175-181.
  51. Dingemann C, Eaton S, Aksnes G, Bagolan P, Cross K, De Coppi P, et al. ERNICA Consensus Conference on the Management of Patients with Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula: Follow-up and Framework. Eur J Pediatr Surg 2020; 30: 475-482.
Copyright: © 2026 Polish Society of Paediatrics. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/), allowing third parties to copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format and to remix, transform, and build upon the material, provided the original work is properly cited and states its license.
SUBMIT YOUR PAPER
Share
without publication fees
without publication fees
Integrated with
Editorial Policies
Sarajevo Declaration on Integrity and Visibility of Scholarly Publications