Welcome to the world of oesophageal atresia and its treatment, where Prof Gottrand is eminent. (A quick hat-tip: His devotion to patient care was distinguished by the Premier prix mondial de l’atrésie de l’oesophage, awarded in June, 2019, at the World Congress on Oesophageal Atresia.) Surgical repair of oesophageal malformations yields palliation rather than cure, with a bewildering mix of dysmotility, dysphagia, malnutrition, reflux, inflammation, malignancy, and pulmonary and otolaryngologic disease all as sequelae; how are these patients, whether with a remodelled native oesophagus or a substituted organ, to be assessed and followed? Monstrously complicated! And improvement in survival means that year by year more and more patients with these problems must be attended and their problems addressed.

Dr Gottrand asks us to take on board that oesophageal atresia no longer is a disorder of infants only; presents us with the spectrum of evolution of oesophageal atresia in later childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, with its many and varied complications; and offers us recommendations for organisation of lifelong follow-up, with transition from paediatric to adult care. Two articles of relevance are cited below.

LiteratureKrishnan U et al. The International Network on Oesophageal Atresia (INoEA) consensus guidelines on the transition of patients with oesophageal atresia-tracheoesophageal fistula. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023 Nov; 20(11):735-755. Doi: 10.1038/s41575-023-00789-w. Epub 2023 Jun 7. PMID: 37286639

Leroy M et al. Time to consider oesophageal atresia as a life-long disease. Int J Surg 2024 May 1; 110(5):2506-2507. Doi: 10.1097/JS9.0000000000001167. PMID: 38376869. PMCID: PMC11093440

Prof. Gottrand´s favourite song: Zaho de Sagazan - la symphonie des éclairs

ESPGHAN favourite Songs can be found on Spotify https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0YIHKjxITLEm9XNyHyypTo