Objectives: Determine whether vocal cord paresis or paralysis (VCP/P) following surgical repair of congenital esophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) is generally a primary anomaly, or is secondary to EA/TEF repair.
Methods: We carried out a retrospective study based on a recently published protocol, which included the systematic performance of a laryngo-tracheo-bronchoscopy before and after EA/TEF repair.
Results: There were 105 patients with EA/TEF referred for multidisciplinary follow-up, between 2010 and 2015. Sixty-four of the 105 patients included in the study underwent EA/TEF repair at the referral center and had pre-operative bronchoscopy; the others had their initial surgery elsewhere. No included patient had VCP/P detected pre-operatively. Six patients (4 initially managed at the referral center) were diagnosed with VCP/P during the follow-up period (6/105, 5.7%).
Conclusion: VCP appears to be an acquired lesion in this population.
Keywords: Child; Infant; Tracheoesophageal fistula; Vocal cord paralysis.
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