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Swallowing Dysfunction and Quality of Life in Adults With Surgically Corrected Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula as Infants: Forty Years of Follow-up.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Gibreel, W; Zendejas, B; Antiel, RM; Fasen, G; Moir, CR; Zarroug, AE
Published in: Ann Surg
August 2017

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the study was to evaluate and study the full spectrum of swallowing dysfunction and long-term disease-specific outcomes in adults with surgically corrected esophageal atresia/tracheaesophageal fistula (EA/TEF). BACKGROUND: Long-term outcomes for adults who underwent EA/TEF repair because infants are lacking. METHODS: We developed a disease-specific swallowing dysfunction questionnaire (SDQ) to assess swallowing dysfunction and quality of life (QOL) of adult patients with surgically corrected EA/TEF. Patients were surveyed with the newly developed SDQ and with a generic QOL tool (36-Item Short Form Health Survey). RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients underwent EA/TEF repair at our institution from 1950 to 1997. Forty-six (61%) patients completed the survey. Median follow-up was 40 years (range 18-63). Results suggest that some degree of swallowing dysfunction is common (82%), worse with hard consistencies (70%), and is associated with frequently needing sips of liquids to facilitate swallowing (75%). The presence of swallowing dysfunction was, however, often mild and did not seem to affect patients' food choices, or their day-to-day activities. QOL did not differ from that of the general population, regardless of the presence or absence of swallowing dysfunction. The presence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (26%), esophageal stricture (39%), or both (15%) does not account for all situations of swallowing dysfunction, nor does it significantly impact QOL. CONCLUSIONS: Swallowing dysfunction is common in adults who underwent EA/TEF repair as infants; however, patients reported minimal effect on QOL or day-to-day activities. The SDQ is a valid and reliable tool to measure the full spectrum of swallowing dysfunction in the EA/TEF repair population.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Ann Surg

DOI

EISSN

1528-1140

Publication Date

August 2017

Volume

266

Issue

2

Start / End Page

305 / 310

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tracheoesophageal Fistula
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Surgery
  • Quality of Life
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux
  • Follow-Up Studies
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Gibreel, W., Zendejas, B., Antiel, R. M., Fasen, G., Moir, C. R., & Zarroug, A. E. (2017). Swallowing Dysfunction and Quality of Life in Adults With Surgically Corrected Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula as Infants: Forty Years of Follow-up. Ann Surg, 266(2), 305–310. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000001978
Gibreel, Waleed, Benjamin Zendejas, Ryan M. Antiel, Geoffrey Fasen, Christopher R. Moir, and Abdalla E. Zarroug. “Swallowing Dysfunction and Quality of Life in Adults With Surgically Corrected Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula as Infants: Forty Years of Follow-up.Ann Surg 266, no. 2 (August 2017): 305–10. https://doi.org/10.1097/SLA.0000000000001978.
Gibreel, Waleed, et al. “Swallowing Dysfunction and Quality of Life in Adults With Surgically Corrected Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula as Infants: Forty Years of Follow-up.Ann Surg, vol. 266, no. 2, Aug. 2017, pp. 305–10. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/SLA.0000000000001978.

Published In

Ann Surg

DOI

EISSN

1528-1140

Publication Date

August 2017

Volume

266

Issue

2

Start / End Page

305 / 310

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tracheoesophageal Fistula
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Surgery
  • Quality of Life
  • Postoperative Complications
  • Infant
  • Humans
  • Gastroesophageal Reflux
  • Follow-Up Studies