Quality of reporting of the literature on gastrointestinal reflux after repair of esophageal atresia-tracheoesophageal fistula

Early Esophagogram and Esophagoscopy: Evaluating Anastomotic Integrity in Successfully Treated Type 3 Esophageal Atresia Survivors

Introduction

Anastomotic narrowing post-Type 3 esophageal atresia (EA) primary repair has been linked to life-threatening respiratory complications and failure to thrive during infancy. It becomes important to find some method to ensure anastomotic adequacy in these patients. We in the study here aimed to find the role of follow-up esophagogram and esophagoscopy in detecting anastomotic stricture (AS) in the early stage and to find whether these help in reducing the morbidity in these patients.

Materials and Methods

Neonates with EA Type 3, who were successfully managed with primary anastomosis were prospectively enrolled and followed up in the study. Irrespective of symptoms, contrast esophagography and esophagoscopy were performed at the age of 2-4 months. Those with AS on endoscopy were followed for the need of dilatations required, respiratory complications, and failure to thrive if any.

Results

Out of 64 patients, 32 patients could be followed up till the completion of the study. An esophagogram conducted at 2 months of age revealed significant dye retention in 10 patients, esophageal narrowing in two patients, and normal results in the remaining 18 patients. Endoscopy confirmed AS in 11 out of 32 (34.4%). Preendoscopy, 44% of patients exhibited respiratory morbidity. After endoscopic dilation, none of the patients developed pneumonia requiring admission. Failure to thrive was noted in 9% of the cases.

Conclusion

The use of esophagograms and endoscopies during the healing phase of anastomosis not only aids in the detection of ASs during its formation but also eases the process of their management.

Physical growth and social prognosis of esophageal atresia after 15 years of age

Background

The mortality rate of esophageal atresia (EA) has significantly improved, but late complications remain problematic. We evaluated the physical growth, late complications, and social prognosis of postoperative patients with EA who have reached 15 years of age.

Methods

EA patients who were treated at our institution from 1984 to 2003 were enrolled. The follow-up, physical growth at the last visit, late complications and treatment, academic status, and employment situation were evaluated.

Results

Twenty-nine EA patients were registered, and the 23 surviving patients (79.3%) were followed. Anthropometry at the latest visit tended to be below the standard values. Fundoplication was performed in 6 (26.1%) of 9 (39.1%) patients with gastroesophageal reflux. Anastomotic stenosis was found in 12 patients (52.2%), and 2 (8.7%) were treated with re-anastomosis. Thirteen patients were attending a regular school, and one was attending a school for disabled children. Four had jobs from 18 years of age. Follow-up was aborted during early childhood in nine patients.

Conclusions

The physical size of EA was smaller than in the healthy population of the same age. Late complications had not affected the physical growth but were sometimes recognized in adolescence. The social prognosis of the patients was largely favorable.

Prevalence of acid gastroesophageal reflux disease in infants with esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula

BACKGROUND

Given the high prevalence and complication risks of acid gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in the first months of life in infants with esophageal atresia, the ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN consensus statement recommends systematic treatment with proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) until the age of 1 year and checking for acid GERD thereafter. However, these recommendations have not been evaluated.

METHODS

This prospective study was conducted from 2007 to 2016. We evaluated the prevalence of acid GERD in 100 consecutive infants presenting with esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula after the age of 18 months when PPI treatment was stopped. The diagnosis of acid GERD was based on positive pH-metry and/or evidence of complications (e.g., peptic esophagitis, need for jejunal nutrition, or antireflux surgery). Those with acid GERD at a median age of 18 months received a control examination every year or adapted to their clinical situation.

RESULTS

The prevalence rates of acid GERD were 64.3% at 18 months and 22.8% at the last follow-up (median age 65 months).There is no risk factor for acid GERD identified.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows a high prevalence of acid GERD in late infancy and supports the recommendation of systematic checking for acid GERD when treatment with PPI is stopped.

IMPACT

Acid gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a frequent complication of esophageal atresia in infants. The ESPGHAN/NASPGHAN consensus, which is based on expert opinion, recommends systematic treatment of children with PPI until the age of 1 year. The prevalence rates of acid GERD were 64.3% at 18 months and 22.8% at the last follow-up. This study shows a high prevalence of acid GERD in late infancy and supports the recommendation of systematic checking for acid GERD when treatment with PPI is stopped.

Paediatric cohort studies on lower respiratory diseases and their reporting quality: systematic review of the year 2018

The paediatric respiratory research community uses cohort studies extensively. However, the landscape of these studies and their quality of reporting has not been assessed.We performed a systematic review of publications on cohort studies reporting on paediatric lower respiratory problems published in 2018. We searched MEDLINE and Embase and extracted data on study and journal characteristics. We assessed the number of items of the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) checklist that a random sample (100 papers) reported. We analysed factors associated with the STROBE score and with the most poorly reported items, using Poisson and logistic regression.Of the 21 319 records identified, 369 full-text articles met our inclusion criteria. Most papers studied asthma aetiology through birth cohorts and were based in Europe or North America. The reporting quality was insufficient: 15% reported the 22 STROBE items; median (interquartile range) score 18 (16-21). The most poorly reported items were sources of bias, sample size, statistical methods, descriptive results and generalisability. None of the study or journal factors were associated with the STROBE score.We need a joint effort of editors, reviewers and authors to improve the reporting quality of paediatric cohort studies on respiratory problems.

Predictive factors affecting the prognosis and late complications of 73 consecutive cases of esophageal atresia at 2 centers

PURPOSE

While the diagnosis and outcomes of esophageal atresia (EA) have improved, associated anomalies, the management of late complications and growth remain major issues. We analyzed factors that affected the prognosis, late complications and growth.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed EA patients treated at two centers from 1984 to 2016. Patient characteristics, complications (gastroesophageal reflux [GER], anastomotic stenosis, tracheomalacia, dysphagia) and growth were evaluated.

RESULTS

Seventy-three EA patients were treated (overall survival rate:80.8%). The mean birth weight was 2514 ± 509 g in the surviving group, and 2453 ± 567 g in the fatal group excluded chromosomal abnormality (p = 0.76). Cardiac and chromosomal anomalies significantly affected mortality. Postoperative GER and anastomotic stenosis each occurred in 39% of the patients. Only GER was significantly affected by the Gross classification. The standard deviation (SD) values of the EA patients' growth were all lower than in the normal population. The SD of body weight was significantly lower in patients with extremity anomalies.

CONCLUSIONS

Associated cardiac and chromosomal anomalies significantly affected the prognosis. GER and anastomotic stenosis were the most common late complications. The growth of the surviving cases was insufficient. These factors will help optimize the therapeutic strategies and postoperative management for EA.

Does the medical literature remain inadequately described despite having reporting guidelines for 21 years? - A systematic review of reviews: an update

PURPOSE

Reporting guidelines (eg, Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials [CONSORT] statement) are intended to improve reporting standards and enhance the transparency and reproducibility of research findings. Despite accessibility of such guidelines, researchers are not required to adhere to them. Our goal was to determine the current status of reporting quality in the medical literature and examine whether adherence of reporting guidelines has improved since the inception of reporting guidelines.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Eight reporting guidelines, such as CONSORT, Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA), STrengthening the Reporting of OBservational studies in Epidemiology (STROBE), Quality of Reporting of Meta-analysis (QUOROM), STAndards for Reporting of Diagnostic accuracy (STARD), Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments (ARRIVE), Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS), and Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (MOOSE) were examined. Our inclusion criteria included reviews published between January 1996 to September 2016 which investigated the adherence to reporting guidelines in the literature that addressed clinical trials, systematic reviews, observational studies, meta-analysis, diagnostic accuracy, economic evaluations, and preclinical animal studies that were in English. All reviews were found on Web of Science, Excerpta Medical Database (EMBASE), MEDLINE, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL).

RESULTS

Among the general searching of 26,819 studies by using the designed searching method, 124 studies were included post screening. We found that 87.9% of the included studies reported suboptimal adherence to reporting guidelines. Factors associated with poor adherence included non-pharmacological interventions, year of publication, and trials concluding with significant results. Improved adherence was associated with better study designs such as allocation concealment, random sequence, large sample sizes, adequately powered studies, multiple authorships, and being published in journals endorsing guidelines.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that the level of adherence to reporting guidelines remains suboptimal. Endorsement of reporting guidelines by journals is important and recommended.

Outcome of primary repair in extremely and very low-birth-weight infants with esophageal atresia/distal tracheoesophageal fistula

PURPOSE

The optimal surgical management of extremely (ELBW) and very low-birth-weight (VLBW) neonates with esophageal atresia and distal tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) (Gross type C) is still debated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the surgical outcome of primary repair in these patients and compare it to ≥1500g neonates.

METHODS

Medical records of neonates with repaired EA from 2002 to 2016 were reviewed.

RESULTS

4 ELBW, 7 VLBW, and 24 ≥1500g infants had type C EA/TEF and underwent primary repair. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 0% ELBW, 0% VLBW and 8.3% ≥1500g patients and anastomotic stricture in 25% ELBW, 28.5% VLBW and 37.5% ≥1500g patients. 50% ELBW, 14.2% VLBW and 20.8% ≥1500g patients underwent secondary fundoplication. One patient of the VLBW group and one patient of the ≥1500g group died postoperatively of causes not related to EA/TEF.

CONCLUSIONS

In extremely and very low-birth-weight neonates with type C EA/TEF surgical outcome after primary repair is comparable to the outcome in ≥1500g neonates. Primary repair can be performed in most of these patients and staged repair can be restricted to unstable patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Treatment study level III.

Esophageal atresia and tracheo-esophageal fistula

Management of esophageal atresia has merged from correction of the anomaly to the complete spectrum of management of esophageal atresia and all its sequelae. It is the purpose of this article to give an overview of all aspects involved in taking care of patients with esophageal atresia between January 2011 and June 2016, as well as the patients who were referred from other centers. Esophageal atresia is a complex anomaly that has many aspects that have to be dealt with and complications to be solved. By centralizing these patients in centers of expertise it is believed that the best care can be given.

Surveillance in Patients With Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) is a congenital aerodigestive anomaly with high survival rates after surgical repair. Care should now be focused on prevention of long-term complications using appropriate surveillance techniques.

RECENT FINDINGS

The incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is high in patients with EA/TEF. Consequences of untreated GERD include esophagitis, strictures, and Barrett esophagus. Subjective symptoms are an unreliable indicator of presence or severity of GERD, and therefore, diagnostic testing is needed to assess esophageal heath and monitor the effectiveness of anti-reflux treatment. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy with biopsy remains the primary surveillance tool, but is invasive and not without risks. Less-invasive modalities such as multichannel intraluminal impedance and pH monitoring to assess GERD appear to correlate strongly with esophageal histology and may provide sufficient information to guide treatment. EA/TEF patients face numerous challenges that need to be considered. Routine surveillance protocols and close monitoring are warranted to assess complications. Further research is needed to delineate the frequency of esophagogastroduodenoscopy versus less-invasive and promising modalities such as multichannel intraluminal impedance-pH monitoring.

Impedance Testing in Esophageal Atresia Patients

Esophageal atresia patients are predisposed to gastroesophageal reflux as a result of the altered esophageal anatomy and motility. These patients experience significant morbidity from gastroesophageal reflux. As a result, an effective way to diagnose and monitor for reflux is crucial. pH-metry is able to quantify acid burden, ensure that acid suppression is adequate during long-term follow-up, and correlate acid reflux to symptoms. pH with impedance is additionally able to detect non-acid reflux as well as volume clearance, both of which also correlate with patient symptoms. It is also able to correlate extra-gastrointestinal symptoms to reflux, which may help guide treatment. If complications associated with uncontrolled reflux are identified, aggressive reflux management is necessary, oftentimes requiring surgical intervention.