A Case of Type C Esophageal Atresia Wherein Retained Abdominal Esophageal Banding Tape Was Endoscopically Removed

Abstract

A female baby weighing 1,150 g was born at 29 weeks and 6 days of gestation and was strongly suspected of having type C esophageal atresia soon after birth. Because her birth weight was very low, we selected abdominal esophageal banding and gastrostomy for staged operation. After the repair of the esophageal atresia, debanding was performed 121 days after the banding operation. Subsequently, stenosis of the abdominal esophagus developed, and we suspected that it was caused by the retained abdominal esophageal banding tape. We tried endoscopic balloon dilation, which revealed the banding tape at the site of stenosis. Repeated balloon dilation enabled the removal of the retained banding tape from the inside of the esophageal lumen. Although abdominal esophageal banding for high-risk esophageal atresia is useful, efforts should be made to prevent surgical complications associated with esophageal banding.