1. Contemporary outcomes of the Foker process and evolution of treatment algorithms for long-gap esophageal atresia
- Author
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Russell W. Jennings, Thomas E. Hamilton, C. Jason Smithers, Benjamin Zendejas, Michael A. Manfredi, Kathryn Davidson, Wendy Jo Svetanoff, Peter D. Ngo, and Kayla Hernandez
- Subjects
medicine.medical_specialty ,business.industry ,Anastomosis, Surgical ,General Medicine ,Anastomosis ,Long gap esophageal atresia ,medicine.disease ,Surgery ,Jejunal interposition ,03 medical and health sciences ,Primary repair ,Treatment Outcome ,0302 clinical medicine ,030225 pediatrics ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Atresia ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,Cohort ,medicine ,Humans ,business ,Esophageal Atresia ,Algorithms ,Retrospective Studies - Abstract
Background Esophageal growth using the Foker process (FP) for long-gap esophageal atresia (LGEA) has evolved over time. Methods Contemporary LGEA patients treated from 2014–2020 were compared to historical controls (2005 to Results 102 contemporary LGEA patients (type A 50%, B 18%, C 32%; 36% prior anastomotic attempt; 20 with esophagostomy) underwent either primary repair (n=23), jejunal interposition (JI; n = 14), or Foker process (FP; n = 65; 49 primary [p], 16 rescue [r]). The contemporary p-FP cohort experienced significantly fewer leaks on traction (4% vs 22%), bone fractures (2% vs 22%), anastomotic leak (12% vs 37%), and Foker failure (FP→JI; 0% vs 15%), when compared to historical p-FP patients (n = 27), all p ≤ 0.01. Patients who underwent a completely (n = 11) or partially (n = 11) minimally invasive FP experienced fewer median days paralyzed (0 vs 8 vs 17) and intubated (9 vs 15 vs 25) compared to open FP patients, respectively (all p ≤ 0.03), with equivalent leak rates (18% vs 9% vs 26%, p = 0.47). At one-year post-FP, most patients (62%) are predominantly orally fed. Conclusion With continued experience and technical refinements, the Foker process has evolved with improved outcomes, less morbidity and maximal esophageal preservation.
- Published
- 2021