Early developmental outcome following surgery for oesophageal atresia. Issue 6 (19th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walker, Karen; Halliday, Robert; Badawi, Nadia; Stewart, Jan; Holland, Andrew JA
• Is Part Of: Journal of paediatrics and child health. Volume 49:Issue 6(2013:Jun.)
• Page Start: 467
• Page End: 470
• Publication Date: 2013-04-19
• Subjects: Children -- Health and hygiene -- Periodicals; Pediatrics -- Periodicals; 618.92
• DOI: 10.1111/jpc.12206
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1034-4810

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="jpc12206-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Aim</title> <p>To compare the developmental outcome of infants with oesophageal atresia with or without trachea‐oesophageal fistula (OA/TOF) who underwent surgery in early infancy with healthy control infants in New South Wales, Australia.</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12206-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Infants diagnosed with OA/TOF requiring surgical intervention were enrolled prospectively between 1 August 2006 and the 31 December 2008. Healthy control infants were enrolled in the same time period. The children underwent a developmental assessment at 1 year of age (corrected) using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development (Version III).</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12206-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Of 34 infants with OA/TOF that were enrolled, 31 had developmental assessments. The majority (75%) were term infants (≥37 weeks gestation) with a mean birth weight of 2717 g. Fourteen infants (44%) had an associated birth defect and one infant with multiple associated anomalies subsequently died. Developmental assessments were also performed on 62 control infants matched for gestational age. Infants with OA/TOF had a mean score significantly lower on the expressive language subscale (<italic>P</italic> < 0.05) compared with the control infants.</p> </sec> <sec id="jpc12206-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>This study found a lower than expected developmental score for infants following surgery for OA/TOF in the expressive language subscale compared with the healthy control infants. These findings support concerns over the potential impact of OA/TOF and its effects on development. Further studies, including continuing developmental review to determine whether these differences persist and their functional importance, should be performed.</p> </sec> </abstract>