Long-term impact of anastomotic leakage following esophageal atresia repair: feeding outcomes, esophageal morbidity, and reinterventions.

Anastomotic leakage after esophageal atresia repair is associated with delayed feeding progression, increased esophageal morbidity, and a higher risk of unplanned reoperation.

In addition, anastomotic leakage remained associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease after adjustment for the available covariates.

These findings suggest that patients who experience postoperative leakage represent a high-risk group that may benefit from careful long-term surveillance and multidisciplinary follow-up.