Treatment and Outcome for Children with Esophageal Atresia from a Gender Perspective

Background. Besides the incidence of esophageal atresia (EA) being higher in males, no other gender-speci3c di4erences in EA have been reported. the aim of this study was to search for gender-speci3c di4erences in EA. Methods. A retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary center for pediatric surgery. the medical charts of infants born with EA were reviewed. 20 girls were identi3ed, and 20 boys were selected as matched controls with respect to concomitant malformations. their treatment and outcome were evaluated. Results. Polyhydramnios was more common in pregnancies with boys, 40%, versus girls, 10%, with EA (p < 0.01). In total, 36 (90%) children had patent ductus arteriosus, without any gender di4erence (18 and 18, resp., p � 1). +e distribution of days at the di4erent levels of care was not equally distributed between boys and girls. Boys with EA had signi3cantly more postoperative days (median 5 days) in the ward than girls (median 5 and 2 days, resp., p � 0.04). No other gender-speci3c di4erences in surgical treatment, complications, or symptoms at follow-up were identi3ed. Conclusion. Polyhydramnios appears to be more frequent in pregnancies with boys than girls with EA. In this study, boys have longer stays than girls at the pediatric surgery ward.