Brazilian Multicenter Study on Esophageal Atresia

Overview

Esophageal atresia is a congenital malformation where the esophagus does not form properly, often associated with a tracheoesophageal fistula. This condition requires complex surgical treatment and intensive neonatal care. Survival has improved worldwide, but results from other countries cannot be directly applied to Brazil due to differences in health resources. This study will gather data from 72 neonatal centers across Brazil to better understand the characteristics, treatments, complications, and outcomes of newborns with esophageal atresia. The goal is to identify factors associated with complications and mortality, and to generate national evidence that can guide better care and improve survival and quality of life.

Esophageal atresia is a congenital malformation characterized by an interruption of the esophageal lumen, frequently associated with a tracheoesophageal fistula. Although survival has significantly improved over the past decades in high-income countries, outcomes remain heterogeneous, and the results from international registries cannot be directly extrapolated to the Brazilian context due to regional differences in health system resources, neonatal intensive care, and surgical practice. At present, Brazil lacks a comprehensive national study evaluating the epidemiology, management, and outcomes of neonates with esophageal atresia. The present multicenter project represents the first nationwide collaboration dedicated to this condition. Seventy-two neonatal centers across Brazil will contribute data, creating a large national cohort that encompasses both retrospective and prospective cases. Data collection will be standardized and managed using the REDCap platform (Research Electronic Data Capture), with local entry validated centrally at the coordinating center. Variables collected will include prenatal and perinatal information, associated anomalies, anatomical classification of the atresia, diagnostic procedures performed, intraoperative surgical details, postoperative course, complications, and mortality. Particular attention will be given to factors such as prematurity, congenital heart disease, VACTERL association, and "long-gap" esophageal atresia, as these conditions are expected to have significant impact on outcomes. The study aims to describe the current Brazilian panorama of esophageal atresia, focusing on short- and mid-term outcomes, including mortality within the first year of life, early complications such as anastomotic leakage and sepsis, and late complications including strictures and recurrent fistulas. A multivariate statistical analysis will be performed to identify predictors of adverse outcomes and to compare the results of different treatment strategies adopted across participating centers. This initiative is expected to provide unprecedented epidemiological and clinical insights into esophageal atresia in Brazil. By combining the expertise and data of multiple neonatal units across diverse regions, the study will generate robust evidence to guide best practices, inform clinical guidelines, and support improvements in neonatal surgical care. Ultimately, the findings have the potential to improve survival and quality of life for Brazilian neonates affected by this challenging congenital condition.