Long-term physical, psychological, and social functioning of children with esophageal atresia

• Published in: Journal of pediatric surgery Vol. 34; no. 3; pp. 399 - 404
• Main Authors: Bouman, Nico H, Koot, Hans M, Hazebroek, Frans W.J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia, PA Elsevier Inc 01.03.1999; Elsevier
• Subjects: Affective Symptoms - epidemiology; Biological and medical sciences; Child; Child Behavior Disorders - epidemiology; Cognition Disorders - epidemiology; Esophageal Atresia - epidemiology; Esophageal Atresia - psychology; Family Relations; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Gastroenterology. Liver. Pancreas. Abdomen; Humans; Illness and personality; Intelligence Tests; Male; Malformations; Medical sciences; Personality, behavior and health; Psychology and medicine; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychophysiology; Stomach. Duodenum. Small intestine. Colon. Rectum. Anus; Stress, Psychological - epidemiology; Time Factors; Esophageal atresia; follow-up; psychosocial functioning; cognitive functioning; Human; Evaluation; Questionnaire; Esophageal disease; Cognition; Congenital disease; Long term; Esophagus; Behavioral disorder; Malformation; Learning disability; Atresia; Digestive diseases; Evolution; Child
• DOI: 10.1016/S0022-3468(99)90485-2
• ISSN: 0022-3468

Background/Purpose : Little is known about the long-term psychosocial functioning of children with esophageal atresia (EA). The physical, psychological, and social functioning of children with EA was studied using standardized assessment procedures, and relations between medical and social background variables and outcome were investigated. Methods : Subjects were 36 children (20 boys, 16 girls; mean age 10.2 years) with EA. Fourteen children had minor and 11 children had major associated congenital anomalies. According to the “Montreal” classification, eight children with major congenital anomalies who also had been dependent on artificial ventilation as newborns fell into the high-risk class. The children were subjected to an intelligence test. Parents completed standardized questionnaires concerning emotional and behavioral problems, psychosocial stress, and family functioning; children completed questionnaires concerning depression and self-esteem; and teachers completed questionnaires concerning emotional and behavioral problems. Results were compared with normative data from the general population, and correlations between background and outcome variables were computed. Results : According to Desjardins' classification, 16 children had excellent, nine children had good, and four children had fair outcome. The mean intelligence quotient (IQ) of the children was 90.2, which is almost 10 points lower than the standardized norm of 100 ( P < .01). High-risk children (n = 7) had a significantly lower IQ (mean IQ, 79.4; P < .05). Five times as many children (n = 8; 22%) as in the general population (4%) required special education ( P < .001). More than twice as many children (30% to 35%) as in the general population (15%) showed elevated rates of emotional and behavioral problems as reported by parents and teachers ( P < .02). The children did not report more negative selfesteem or more depressive symptoms than children in the general population. Children with a lower IQ reported lower scholastic competence (r = .38, P < .05) and showed more emotional and behavioral problems as reported by teachers (r = −.43, P < .05). Family functioning and levels of psychosocial stress were the same as in the general population. Children in worse functioning families showed more emotional and behavioral problems as reported by parents (r = .37, P < .05) and higher depression scores as reported by themselves (r = .47, P < .01). Conclusions : In a follow-up study using standardized assessment procedures, it was shown that children with EA have more learning, emotional, and behavioral problems than children in the general population. A high-risk group of children with major associated congenital anomalies who had been ventilated as a newborn, were at special risk for cognitive problems.