The right-sided aortic arch in children with esophageal atresia and tracheo-esophageal fistula: a repair through the right thoracotomy

Purpose The management of the esophageal atresia and tracheo-esophageal fistula (EA/TEF) with right-sided aortic arch (RAA) is controversial. The preoperative diagnostic techniques may fail to show RAA associated with EA/TEF. Surgeon may need to make a decision to change the side of thoracotomy. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the possibility of preoperative diagnosis of RAA and the primary anastomosis through right chest. Methods A retrospective review was performed in EA/TEF patients between February 2001 and 2008. A total of 79 patients (35 female, 44 male) with EA/TEF were reviewed. Eleven (13%) patients (5 female, 6 male) had an RAA. Echocardiography was performed in 10 of 11 patients with RAA. The chest was accessed through the right side in all patients. Results The incidence of RAA was found to be higher in our study than previous studies (13%). Right thoracotomy was performed successfully in all patients. Three patients died due to multiple congenital anomalies and 1 patient due to bleeding postoperatively. Five of 10 had normal echocardiography findings. Only one patient with RAA has been successfully diagnosed by preoperative echocardiographic examination. Seven patients had no complication after operation. Their follow-up was uneventful. Conclusion Preoperative recognition of RAA with echocardiography is unlikely in patients with EA/TEF but the presence of RAA does not decrease the success rate of EA/TEF repair through the right thoracotomy.