ABSTRACT
The role of postoperative enteral feeding has been well documented. The objective of this study was to assess the benefits of early feeding via a transgastric jejunal tube after primary repair of congenital esophageal atresia [EA] with tracheo-esophageal fistula [TEF]. Thirty patients were treated at Mansoura University Children's Hospital during the period from July 2002 and January 2005. Following thoracotomy and primary esophageal anastomosis, Stamm's gastrostomy was constructed, through which a jejunal tube was passed. Twenty four patients survived, six cases died. Four patients developed esophageal leaks, which were treated conservatively, one of them developed anastomotic stricture later and another developed a recurrent fistula. We observed improved infant's weight profile and increases IL-12 levels. Diminished glutathione peroxidase levels were detected postoperatively. Early enteral feeding improves the survival, decreases the morbidity, maintains the body weight and the hydroelectrolytic equilibrium and builds up the immunologic response