Use of "Gore-Tex surgical membrane" to minimize surgical adhesions in multistaged extrathoracic esophageal elongation for esophageal atresia.

The procedure of choice in the surgical correction of "long gap" esophageal atresia should, when possible, preserve the native esophagus. We present a modification of "the multistaged extrathoracic esophageal elongation method," designed to facilitate esophageal elongation and use of a Gore-Tex (W.L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) surgical membrane to minimize surgical adhesions. We used this technique to successfully treat a 1-kg infant, with type A esophageal atresia, associated aortic coartation, and severe necrotizing enterocolitis with multiple perforations. Multistaged extrathoracic esophageal elongation was begun at the age of 9 months and concluded at 17 months.