Abstract
Purpose: It has been shown that gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has a bad effect on anastomotic stricture for patients who underwent repair of esophageal atresia. The purpose of this study is to examine the therapy for anastomotic stricture with GERD in esophageal atresia. Methods: We reviewed the medical records of 113 patients with esophageal atresia. Thirty-one patients were complicated with anastomotic stricture after the repair for esophageal atresia. They were classified into two groups based on the complications (with/without GERD). The therapies for anastomotic strictures were compared between the group with GERD and without GERD. Result: Fourteen of them had also GERD. The average gap between the upper esophagus and the lower esophagus is longer in patients with anastomotic stricture and GERD than patients with only anastomotic stricture. Six of 14 patients who had anastomotic stricture and GERD underwent Livaditis's procedure. We basically performed dilatations for patients with anastomotic stricture and gave medicine for the patients with GERD. The average number of dilatations was 2.4 times in patients with anastomotic stricture without GERD. Although the average of 7.3 dilatations was required for patients with anastomotic stricture and GERD, the symptoms due to anastomotic stricture did not improve. However, after the fundoplication was performed for GERD, the anastomotic stricture was resolved with or without additional dilatations.
