Thoracoscopic esophageal atresia repair: learning curve analysis using Clavien-Dindo surgical complication classification.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate a thoracoscopic esophageal atresia repair program by comparing it with a historic patient cohort. MATERIAL AND METHODS Retrospective cohort study. Surgery group: thoracoscopic surgery patients. Control group: open repair patients, with weight and gestational age in the same range as the surgery cohort. Minimal weight for thoracoscopic surgery was 1,700 g. Adverse effects were recorded using Clavien-Dindo classification. Complication odds ratio was calculated. Statistical significance was established at p< 0.05. RESULTS From January 2006 to December of 2019, 40 cases of esophageal atresia (Gross type C) were recorded, 10 of which were excluded. The study consisted of 12 patients in the surgery group and 18 patients in the control group. Groups were similar in terms of sex, gestational age, and weight at birth. In the surgery group, mean operating time was significantly longer (146 min vs. 213 min.; T test = -4.76; p = 0.0001) and it was correlated with the case number (Spearman's Rho: -0.853; p = 0.0001). 16 patients (52%) developed 19 complications: 3 (16%) grade I complications, 8 (42%) grade II complications, 5 (26.5%) grade IIIa complications, 1 (5%) grade IIIb complication, and 2 (10.5%) IVa complications, with a similar distribution between groups (Chi square: 1.98; p = 0.73). Odds ratio for adverse effect occurrence showed no differences (OR: 2.4; 95% CI: 0.48-11.93; p = 0.44) even when excluding patients with isolated grade I complication (OR: 1.4; 95% CI: 0.32-6.10; p = 0.72). Complications in the surgery group occurred in the first 5 cases only. CONCLUSIONS In the thoracoscopic approach, learning curve associated morbidity seems limited to operating time and has a complication rate similar to that of open surgery.