THORACOSCOPIC REPAIR OF ESOPHAGEAL ATRESIA WITH DISTAL FISTULA IN A NEW BORN: A TECHNICAL CASE REPORT

Introduction. Esophageal atresia encompasses a group of congenital anomalies comprising of an interruption of the esophageal continuity with or without a persistent communication with the trachea. Esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula (type C) accounts for 85% of all esophageal atresia. Minimally invasive approach to correct esophageal atresia with distal fistula is becoming more generally accepted. The outcome of these technique are critically analyzed and compared with results from open repair. We present one case of type IIIB esophageal atresia treated by a thoracoscopic approach. Case Report. The patient was a 2-days-old infant male, weight 3 kg with esophageal atresia and distal tracheoesophageal fistula without other associated disease. A polidramanios was detected in prenatal age by a prenatal ultrasound evaluation. He underwent to a thoracoscopic repair of the defect. The operation was approached through the right chest using a three-trocar technique (three 5-mm) with the patient placed in a three-quarter prone position. The azygos vein was ligated by Ligature device. The fistula was ligated by two resorbable stiches suture and dissected, the proximal esophagus was opened and an anastomosis was made over a 6 Ch nasogastric tube with interrupted and resorbable stiches suture. On the postoperative day 7, gastrografin swallow was performed and oral feeding was started. The patient’s six month upper Gastrointestinal barium studies was normal. Discussion and conclusion. Thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia is considered to be one of the more advanced and most difficult pediatric surgical procedures and it undoubtely has necessary an elevated learning curve. The minimally invasive approach was larged accepted in the last ten years also for the well documented sequelae of traditional open repair of esophageal atresia. More experience is needed to determine the exact place of this approach.