Esophageal atresia – gastrointestinal and nutritional complications

Esophageal atresia (EA) is one of the most common digestive malformations; 50% of the patients with EA have other congenital anomalies associated. Due to the progress regarding the surgical techniques and the treatments given in the neonatal intensive care units, along with perfecting the nutrition techniques, the concern shifted from mortality to the morbidity and the quality of life of the patients with esophageal atresia. In order to apply specific therapeutic programs, an increased attention is given to the early identification of the complications, which are described from the neonatal period up to the adulthood. The most common are the gastrointestinal, nutritional and respiratory complications. One of the complications with major impact on the evolution of patients with esophageal atresia is gastro-esophageal reflux (GER), found in 50% of patients with esophageal atresia; GER may be met in adults, even without symptoms. The persistence of GER is associated with increasing incidence of complications such as dysphagia, esophagitis, esophageal strictures, esophageal metaplasia, esophageal carcinoma.