Oesophageal Atresia: the quest for surgical cure

Oesophageal atresia is a congenital abnormality in which the oesophagus fails to develop normally, and untreated the newborn baby will die. Though it was first described over 350 years ago the first successful surgical treatment was not achieved until the 1940s when the mortality of the condition was over 80%. In recent years the mortality with expert treatment is less then 10%, however in developing countries many babies still die.

The development of operations for oesophageal atresia is described, from personal, local, national and international perspectives.

Richard Spicer FRCS, formerly Consultant Paediatric Surgeon, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children & Senior Lecturer, University of Bristol.