A nationwide analysis of clinical outcomes among newborns with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistulas in the United States

Background: The aim of this study was to examine national outcomes in newborn patients with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) in the United Sates. Methods: Kid's Inpatient Database (KID) is designed to identify, track, and analyze national outcomes for hospitalized children in the United States. Inpatient admissions for pediatric patients with EA/TEF for kid's Inpatient Database years 2000, 2003, 2006, and 2009 were analyzed. Patient demographics, socioeconomic measures, disposition, survival and surgical procedures performed were analyzed using standard statistical methods. Results: A total of 4168 cases were identified with diagnosis of EA/TEF. The overall in-hospital mortality was 9%. Univariate analysis revealed lower survival inpatients with associated acute respiratory distress syndrome, ventricular septal defect (VSD), birth weight (BW) < 1500 g, gestational age (GA), time of operation within 24 h of admission, coexisting renal anomaly, imperforate anus, African American race, and lowest economic status. Multivariate logistic regression identified BW < 1500 g (odds ratio [OR] 4.5, P < 0.001), operation within 24 h (OR 6.9, P< 0.001), GA< 28wk(OR 2.2, P< 0.030), and presence ofVSD(OR 3.8, P< 0.001) as independent predictors of in-hospital mortality. Children's general hospital and children's unit in a general hospital were found to have a lower mortality rate compared with not identified as a children's hospital after excluding immediate transfers (P=0.008). Conclusions: BW < 1500 g, operation within 24 h, GA < 28 wk, and presence of VSD are the factors that predict higher mortality in EA/TEF population. Despite dealing with more complicated cases, children's general hospital and children's unit in a general hospital were able to achieve a lower mortality rate than not identified as a children's hospital. (C) 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.