ABSTRACT
Esophageal atresia (EA) and tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF) remain a significant challenge to modern pediatric surgery. There are many unanswered questions in the clinical and basic science arenas. Improved survival has resulted in a greater emphasis on the complications of EA and TEF, with continuing debate over the management of pure long-gap atresia, gastroesophageal reflux (GER), anastomotic stricture, and tracheomalacia. A relatively new body of literature is available concerning long-term outcome and quality of life. The fields of applied embryology and genetics continue to yield fascinating insights into the etiology of EA and TEF, with significant contributions arising out of the development of animal models. The control mechanisms for the fundamental embryological processes that are defective in EA and TEF are now being unravelled at the molecular level.
