Long-term nutritional assessment of patients with esophageal atresia and/or tracheoesophageal fistula.

Fifty-three patients operated for esophageal atresia and/or tracheoesophageal fistula at the Childrens Hospital of Los Angeles returned for long-term nutritional assessment. The ages ranged from 11 months to 31 years of age with a mean age of 9 years 11 months. Nineteen percent of the patients were below the third percentile in height for their age, thus exhibiting evidence of chronic malnutrition. No significant differences could be demonstrated between patients with a birth weight above or below 2500 g or above or below 5 years of age. Patients over 13 years of age demonstrated considerably less evidence of chronic malnutrition (p less than .06), thus exhibiting a "catch-up" growth phenomenon. Associated anomalies and illnesses were frequently seen in patients with the most significant abnormal nutritional-assessment parameters. Nutritional assessment should be part of long-term management and follow-up of all patients with esophageal atresia or other congenital surgical anomalies.