H-type TEF is very rare and commonly presents with recurrent chest infection, chocking and coughing during feeds and cyanosis. Physicians caring for these patients should be aware of this and a high index of suspicion is of paramount importance to avoid delay in diagnosis with its associated morbidity. A contrast esophagogram is valuable in confirming the diagnosis. The study however may need to be repeated. Preoperative bronchoscopy is valuable to localize and cannulate the fistula for easier access during surgery. Surgical repair is the treatment of choice and this should be performed through a right cervical incision or thoracotomy for low fistulae. Thoracoscopic ligation and division of a low H-type fistula is an alternative and less invasive approach when compared to thoracotomy.

No abstract

Rectal atresia is a rare anorectal malformation, and it has been reported to represent 1%–2% of all anorectal malformations. We report three newborns who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit for abdominal distention, bilious vomiting and failure to pass meconium. The external anus and genitalia were normal and well formed. Digital rectal examination showed a blind-ending anal canal. All three infants were initially managed with diverting colostomy and then transanal resection of the rectal atresia with primary anastomosis, followed by colostomy closure. All patients eventually developed normal bowel habits and gained complete bowel control at 3–5 years of age, with mild constipation managed with laxatives. Contrast enema in a newborn with distal bowel obstruction is helpful to delineate the anatomy to show the gaps and to facilitate the procedure. In conclusion, transanal endorectal pull-through is a feasible and safe procedure with satisfactory clinical outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate the outcomes of fundoplication and gastrostomy (GT) in neurologically impaired (NI) children. Methods: A retrospective review of medical charts was performed on 178 NI children up to the age of 14 years inclusive, who underwent fundoplication and GT between 1999 and 2014. Results: After fundoplication, the incidence-rate (person-month) of all hospital admissions (0.95 versus 0.13; p <0.001), gastroesophageal reflux (GER) - related admissions (0.67 versus 0.09; p <0.001), and admissions for seizures (0.21 versus 0.01; p <0.001 were significantly decreased. Furthermore, all emergency department visits (0.94 versus 0.23; p <0.001), GER visits (0.61 versus 0.12; p <0.001), seizure visits (0.24 versus 0.01: p <0.001) were significantly reduced. The mortality rate after fundoplication was 35%. The risk factors for predicting mortality were being male (odds ratio: 2.2, p =0.027) and being a do not resuscitate (DNR) child (odds ratio: 5.2, p <0.001). Majority of the children that died within a year after the procedure were DNR. Conclusions: Fundoplication with GT is effective in reducing hospital admissions and emergency department visits from GER and seizures in NI children. Because of high mortality within a year of fundoplication with GT in DNR children, anti-reflux medications with GT might be an alternative.