OBJECTIVETo compare the efficacy of thoracoscopic surgery versus thoracotomy in repairing esophageal atresia type Ⅲ with tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) in neonates.

METHODSA retrospective analysis was conducted in 97 neonates who underwent EA/TEF repair between January 2012 and December 2017 in the Affiliated Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, including 75 patients receiving thoracotomy and 22 patients receiving thoracoscopic surgery. The perioperative data and the incidence of early postoperative complications were compared between two groups.

RESULTSThe operations were completed in all patients. One child (4.5%) in thoracoscopic surgery group was converted to thoracotomy with modified Livaditis procedure due to the long distance of two blind ends (>4 cm) and thinner distal end. The operation time was longer in thoracoscopic surgery group[(143±48) min vs. (120±40) min, <0.05], but the postoperative ventilation time was shorter[(55±22) h vs. (65±19) h, <0.05] and the first oral feeding was earlier in thoracoscopic surgery group[(3.2±1.1) d vs (3.9±1.3) d, <0.05]. No statistical difference was observed in the ratio of red blood cell transfusion, length of hospital stay and drainage tube indwelling time between two groups (all >0.05). The incidence of lung complications in thoracotomy group was higher than that in thoracoscopic surgery group (20.0% vs. 9.1%, <0.01), while there were no significant differences in the incidence of other postoperative complications between two groups. There was no death in thoracoscopic surgery group, while 2 patients died in thoracotomy group.

CONCLUSIONSThoracoscopic repair is a preferred surgical procedure for EA/TEF in neonates.