Department of Pediatrics, Shanti Hospital, Bagalkot, Karnataka, India.
Afr J Paediatr Surg. 2020 Jul-Dec;17(3 & 4):99-103. doi: 10.4103/ajps.AJPS_72_19.
Since the gap between two atretic segments of oesophagus is a critical determinant of prognosis for oesophageal atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF), the search for a surrogate non-invasive pre-operative marker of long gap atresia continues.
The purpose of the study was to compare the presence of normal and supernumerary ribs with length of EA and survival rates.
A prospective observational study was conducted at a tertiary care referral neonatal intensive care unit in North Karnataka, India, from January 2016 to June 2019.
Amongst babies with EA/TEF, pre-operative radiograph helped determine the number of ribs, and babies were divided into two groups; Group I: babies with 12 ribs and Group II: babies with supernumerary ribs.
Nominal variables were expressed as percentage and continuous variables as mean standard deviation. MedCalc software was used to compare proportions and means. A P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Of the 61 cases, 51 were operated. Long gap EA was predominantly seen amongst babies in Group II (40% in Group II vs. 27% in Group I, P= 0.424). Survival rates by percentage were lower in babies in Group II (60% in Group II vs. 80% in Group I, P= 0.188). Both the above findings were proven statistically insignificant. The overall survival rate amongst the study population was 78.4% (39/51).
Supernumerary ribs were associated with a higher occurrence of long gap EA and lower survival rates, though statistically insignificant. Multicentre collaboration may provide significant input for strengthening or refuting the above hypothesis.
食管闭锁/食管气管瘘（EA/TEF）患儿食管两吻合口间的距离是影响预后的关键因素，因此，人们一直致力于寻找一种非侵入性的术前预测长距离食管闭锁的替代指标。
本研究旨在比较正常肋骨和额外肋骨的存在与 EA 长度和存活率的关系。
本前瞻性观察性研究于 2016 年 1 月至 2019 年 6 月在印度北 Karnataka 的一家三级医疗转诊新生儿重症监护病房进行。
在 EA/TEF 患儿中，术前 X 线片有助于确定肋骨数量，将患儿分为两组：第 I 组：有 12 根肋骨的患儿；第 II 组：有额外肋骨的患儿。
名义变量用百分比表示，连续变量用均数标准差表示。使用 MedCalc 软件比较比例和均值。P<0.05 被认为具有统计学意义。
61 例患儿中，51 例接受了手术。第 II 组中长距离 EA 更为常见（第 II 组中 40%，第 I 组中 27%，P=0.424）。第 II 组患儿的存活率较低（第 II 组中 60%，第 I 组中 80%，P=0.188）。这两个发现均无统计学意义。研究人群的总体存活率为 78.4%（39/51）。
额外肋骨与长距离 EA 的发生和存活率较低有关，尽管无统计学意义。多中心合作可能会为加强或反驳上述假设提供重要依据。
