ABSTRACT
Eighty-nine Saudi newborns with esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF)
were managed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center (KFSH & RC), Riyadh,
Saudi Arabia between the years 1980-1995; there were 54 boys and 35 girls. Forty-four
(49%) newborns had associated congenital anomalies. Genitourinary anomalies were present
in 19 (21%), cardiovascular in 17 (19%), gastrointestinal in 9 (10%), central nervous
system in 8 (9%), musculoskeletal in 7 (8%), chromosomal anomalies in 4 (5%), and
head and neck in 5 (6%) cases. In general, the survival rate was higher in patients
without associated anomalies than with associated anomalies (93 vs. 77%, p = 0.028). However, all patients with head and neck anomalies survived, whereas all
patients with chromosomal anomalies died. With these exceptions, the survival rate
was similar regardless of the type or the number of associated anomalies. The average
birth weight was similar between survivors and non-survivors (2572 vs. 2376 g) and
between patients with or without associated anomalies (2566 vs. 2519 g). We conclude
that the survival rate of newborns with EA/TEF is high, especially in the absence
of associated anomalies. Investigations for possible associated genitourinary and
cardiovascular anomalies should be considered for all patients with EA/TEF.
Keywords
Tracheosophageal fistula - esophageal atresia - congenital anomalies, renal and cardiac
