TY - JOUR AU - di Natale, Anthony; Brestel, Jessica; Mauracher, Andrea Alexis; Tharakan, Sasha Job; Meuli, Martin; Möhrlen, Ueli; Subotic, Ulrike TI - Long-Term Outcomes and Health-Related Quality of Life in a Swiss Patient Group with Esophageal Atresia SN - 0939-7248 SN - 1439-359X PY - 2021 JO - Eur J Pediatr Surg JF - European Journal of Pediatric Surgery LA - EN VL - 32 IS - 04 SP - 334 EP - 345 DA - 2021/07/29 KW - esophageal atresia KW - health-related quality of life KW - long-term follow-up AB - Introduction Surgical treatment of esophageal atresia (EA) has markedly improved, allowing the focus to shift from short-term complications and mortality to long-term complications and quality of life. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is variable and reported to range from reduced to unimpaired in patients with repaired EA. We assessed the HRQoL, determined the prevalence of long-term complications and their possible impact on the HRQoL in patients who had correction of EA in Switzerland. Further, we also investigated in the general well-being of their parents.Materials and Methods Patients with EA repair in Switzerland between 1985 and 2011 were enrolled. Long-term complications were assessed by enquiring disease-related symptoms, standardized clinical examinations, and analysis of radiographs. HRQoL was inquired using different validated questionnaires (KIDSCREEN-27, World Health Organization [WHO]-5, and Gastrointestinal Quality of Life Index [GIQLI]). Patients were grouped according to their age. In underage patients, general well-being of the parents was assessed using the WHO-5 questionnaire.Results Thirty patients were included with a mean age of 11.3 ± 5.7 years. Long-term complications were present in 63% of all patients. HRQoL in underage patients was comparable to the provided reference values and rated as good, while adult patients reported a reduced HRQoL. The presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease symptoms was associated with reduced HRQoL in underage patients. Parents of underage patients stated a good general well-being.Conclusion Long-term complications among patients with repair of EA in Switzerland are common. HRQoL in underage patients is good and general well-being of their parents is unimpaired. Adult patients reported a reduced HRQoL, consistent with other reports. As long-term complications may manifest only later in life, a structured follow-up of patients with an EA repair during childhood and adolescence is needed. PB - Georg Thieme Verlag KG DO - 10.1055/s-0041-1731391 UR - http://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/abstract/10.1055/s-0041-1731391 ER -