INFLUENCE OF BIRTH WEIGHT ON PRIMARY SURGICAL MANAGEMENT OF NEWBORNS WITH ESOPHAGEAL ATRESIA

Single-center retrospective study of 198 newborns with EA-TEF shows very low birth weight infants (<1.5kg) face significantly reduced likelihood of achieving primary esophageal anastomosis and higher mortality compared to heavier infants. Birth weight emerges as an independent predictor of surgical feasibility in this population.