Background: Long-gap esophageal atresia (EA) and post-corrosive esophageal stricture (PCES) are the most common indications for esophageal replacement in children.
Objectives: This study was conducted to evaluate gastric tube as an operative procedure for esophageal replacement in pediatric age group.
Patients and Methods: Our prospective study included 20 patients who were presented to Alexandria University Specialized Pediatric Hospital for esophageal replacement during the period from June 2021 to January 2023. The study included 16 patients with EA and 4 patients with PCES; there were 12 males and 8 females. The age of the studied patients at the time of the operation ranged from 9 months to 50 months. The weight of the included patients at the time of operation ranged from 10 to 15 kg. All patients were operated on by retrosternal isoperistalitic gastric tube procedure by the same surgical team.
Results: All cases have excellent to good results according to long-term follow-up. Cervical wound leakage followed by anastomotic stricture was the most common postoperative complication. Most cases with cervical leakage healed spontaneously without any surgical intervention and most cases with anastomotic stricture responded well to regular esophageal dilatations. We had only one case of mortality (5%) due to severe chest infection and sepsis.
Conclusion: In experienced hands, the rate of complications in gastric tube esophagoplasty is minimal.