Reply to Letter to Editor by Karabulut R, et al

We would like to thank Drs. Turkylimaz, Karabulut, and their colleagues for their comments on our recent publication, Effect of transanastomotic feeding tubes on anastomotic strictures in patients with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula: the Quebec experience [1]. The authors raise the issue of other determinants of esophageal stricture following repair of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula, particularly the role of the surgeon's experience, surgical approach (open versus thoracoscopic), operative time, gap length, and anastomotic tension.