are gastrostomy and prophylactic esophageal dilatation necessary?
Fourteen cases of esophageal atresia with distal tracheoesophageal fistula were treated by primary anastomosis (11 cases) or delayed primary anastomosis (3 cases) between August 1980 and September 1985. Postoperative esophageal dilatation was not used in the 13 survivors and none developed esophageal stricture. In the 11 cases of primary anastomosis, gastrostomy was performed simultaneously only in the first 2 cases. The omission of gastrostomy did not aggravate the preexisting pulmonary condition. Rather it shortened the operation time. It is considered that prophylactic esophageal dilatation is not necessary and gastrostomy is required only when primary anastomosis is not possible.
