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World J Gastrointest Endosc. Oct 16, 2014; 6(10): 482-487
Published online Oct 16, 2014. doi: 10.4253/wjge.v6.i10.482
Role of preoperative tracheobronchoscopy in newborns with esophageal atresia: A review
Filippo Parolini, Giovanni Boroni, Stefania Stefini, Cristina Agapiti, Tullia Bazzana, Daniele Alberti
Filippo Parolini, Giovanni Boroni, Daniele Alberti, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Stefania Stefini, Tullia Bazzana, Department of Pediatric Othorinolaryngology, Azienda Ospedaliera Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Cristina Agapiti, Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit, Azienda Ospedaliera Spedali Civili, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Daniele Alberti, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Author contributions: Parolini F conceptualized and designed the study, designed the data collection instruments, drafted the initial manuscript, reviewed and revised the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted; Boroni G designed the data collection instruments, drafted, reviewed and revised the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted; Stefini S designed the data collection instruments, drafted, reviewed and revised the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted; Agapiti C designed the data collection instruments, drafted, reviewed and revised the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted; Bazzana T coordinated and supervised data collection, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted; Alberti D conceptualized and designed the study, critically reviewed the manuscript and approved the final manuscript as submitted.
Correspondence to: Filippo Parolini, MD, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Spedali Civili, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy. parfil@hotmail.it
Telephone: +39-03-03996201 Fax: +39-03-03996154
Received: April 30, 2014
Revised: August 19, 2014
Accepted: September 6, 2014
Published online: October 16, 2014
Processing time: 170 Days and 17.4 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Despite preliminary tracheobronchoscopy (TBS) in the management of newborns affected by esophageal atresia (EA) being described in 1981, only a few studies have clearly explored the advantages of TBS in the subsequent years and this procedure is still not routinely part of the diagnostic and surgical assessment in many international pediatric surgery centers. This review provides a detailed overview on the use of TBS in newborns with EA, focusing on technical and anesthesiological aspects, benefits and risks of this procedure. TBS is also compared with alternative diagnostic tools, such as an esophageal contrast study, computed tomography scan and ultrasound.