Right or left thoracotomy for esophageal atresia and right aortic arch? Systematic review and surgicoanatomic justification
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In brief
In brief
Systematic review comparing right versus left thoracotomy approaches for esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula in patients with right aortic arch. Right thoracotomy showed unique anatomic complications including aortic injury and bleeding, while conversions from right to left approach had higher complication rates and more frequent staged repairs.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Introduction
The optimal thoracotomy approach for the management of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) with a right aortic arch (RAA) remains controversial.
Methods
Systematic review of complications and death rates between right- and left-sided repairs, including all studies on EA/TEF and RAA, apart from studies focusing on long-gap EA and thoracoscopic repairs. Review of right- and left-sided surgical anatomy in relation to reported complications.
Results
Although no significant differences were elicited between right- and left-sided repairs in complications (9/29 vs. 1/6, p = 0.64) and death rates (2/29 vs. 0/6, p = 0.57), unique anatomic complications – such as injury to the RAA covering the esophagus and intractable bleeding – associated with mortality were revealed in the right thoracotomy group. Left-sided repairs following failed repair through the right showed higher complications rate (3/3) than straightforward right- (9/29) or left-sided repairs (1/6) (p = 0.024). Right thoracotomies converted to left thoracotomies led to staged repairs more frequently (4/9) than straightforward right (5/38) or left thoracotomies (0/6) (p = 0.03).
Conclusions
There is not enough evidence to support that right thoracotomy, characterized by unique surgicoanatomic difficulties, is equivalent to left thoracotomy for EA/TEF with RAA. Both approaches might be required, and, therefore, surgeons should be familiarized with surgical anatomy of mediastinum approached from right and left.
Systematic review, Level of Evidence III.