Predictors of clinical response of esophageal dilatations in pediatric population

Proton pump inhibitors in esophageal atresia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is frequent and prolonged in esophageal atresia (EA) pediatric patients requiring routine use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). However, there are still controversies on the prophylactic use of PPIs and the efficacy of PPIs on GERD and EA complications in this special condition. The aim of the study is to assess the prophylactic use of PPIs in pediatric patients with EA and its complications. We, therefore, performed a systematic review including all reports on the subject from 1980 to 2022. We conducted meta-analysis of the pooled proportion of PPI-and no PPI groups using random effect model, meta-regression, and estimate heterogeneity by heterogeneity index I2 . Thirty-eight reports on the topic met the criteria selection, representing a cumulative 6044 patients with EA. Prophylactic PPI prescription during the first year of life does not appear to prevent GERD persistence at follow-up and is not associated with a significantly reduced rate of antireflux surgical procedures (ARP). PPIs improve peptic esophagitis and induce remission of eosinophilic esophagitis at a rate of 50%. Their effect on other GERD outcomes is uncertain. Evidence suggests that PPIs do not prevent anastomotic stricture, Barrett's esophagus, or respiratory complications. PPI use in EA can improve peptic and eosinophilic esophagitis but is ineffective on the other EA complications. Side effects of PPIs in EA are almost unknown.

Use of Staged vs. Primary Repair in Thoracoscopic Esophageal Atresia Repair

INTRODUCTION

Morbidity after thoracoscopic primary repair of esophageal atresia (EA) is still high in many centers. We retrospectively assessed the outcomes of a center-specific standardized approach in a group of newborns with EA that had been classified into one of two surgical management groups.

METHODS

38 consecutive newborns with EA (median birth weight: 2570 g, range: 1020-3880) were treated between 2013 and 2022. The patients were classified into one of two groups: one-stage or multi-stage approach. The decision was based on the patients' general condition, the results of preoperative tests and/or by local conditions during thoracoscopy.

RESULTS

Thirty patients (all with type C EA) underwent primary esophageal anastomosis and 8 patients (21%) underwent multi-stage surgery and delayed anastomosis. The decision to take a multi-stage approach was made in the following cases: hemodynamic instability (n = 3), severely hypoplastic (up to 2 cm) distal esophagus (n = 1), extremely high position of the proximal esophagus (n = 2) and in all patients with type A EA (n = 2). In the multi-stage group, the second-stage procedure was performed after a median of 13 days (range: 7-42). Overall survival for all patients was 89%, with a median follow-up of 4.5 years. We did not note either anastomotic leaks or conversion to the open technique in our cohort.

CONCLUSION

In selected cases, the multi-stage approach can affect patient safety in terms of surgical morbidity. Considering multi-stage correction of EA in advance can positively affect outcomes, especially in terms of lower rates of anastomosis leakage and of conversion to open surgery.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

III.

[Clinical analysis of endoscopic esophageal dilation for the treatment of corrosive esophageal strictures in children]

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the clinical application of endoscopic esophageal dilation in the treatment of corrosive esophageal strictures in children.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was performed on the clinical data of 15 children with corrosive esophageal strictures who underwent endoscopic esophageal dilation in Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. The clinical features, treatment modality of endoscopic esophageal dilation, number of dilations, complications, and prognosis were reviewed.

RESULTS

A total of 96 esophageal dilations were performed in the 15 children with corrosive esophageal strictures, with a median of 6 dilations per child. Among them, 9 children (60%) underwent 6 or more dilations. The children with a stricture length of >3 cm had a significantly higher number of dilations than those with a stricture length of ≤3 cm (P<0.05). The children with strictures in a single segment had a significantly better treatment outcome than those with strictures in multiple segments (P=0.005). No complication was observed during all sessions of dilation. The overall effective rate (including significant improvement and improvement) of endoscopic esophageal dilation treatment was 87%, with 2 cases of failure.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic esophageal dilation is an effective and relatively safe treatment method for corrosive esophageal strictures in children, and children with strictures in a single segment tend to have a better treatment outcome than those with strictures in multiple segments.