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Introduction: Esophageal atresia (EA) is the interruption of the continuity of the esophagus, with or without persistent communication with the trachea. Recent advances in surgical techniques have made possible correction with minimally invasive surgery (MIS)., Objective: To evaluate the management of thoracoscopic technique in the treatment of EA., Patients and Method: Retrospective analysis of medical records in two centers was carried out between 2007 and 2012. Variables such as gestational age, gender, weight, type of esophageal atresia, malformations, surgery and postoperative complications were recorded., Results: Twenty patients, 15 of them with type III EA, 4 with type I and one unclassifiable, were part of the study. 13 patients underwent ligation, cut of tracheoesophageal fistula and end to end anastomosis. Two underwent laparoscopic gastrostomy and fistula ligation. One patient required conversion and underwent esophagostomy plus gastrostomy. 4 patients without fistula required laparoscopic gastrostomy and aspiration of the proximal esophagus to be able to perform esophageal anastomosis. In the postoperative period, pleural drainage and a transanastomotic feeding tube were installed. Seven patients required esophageal dilations and 4 patients developed stenosis due to reflux. Two had recurrent fistula, one with spontaneous resolution and another with endoscopic resolution. Three children died: two of them due to pathologies not related to surgery and one as a result of limitation of therapeutic effort after fistula patency., Discussion: Esophageal atresia repair with MIS is a safe and effective option with excellent exposure and visualization of anatomic landmarks and little associated morbidity.

Unlabelled: Newborns (NB) represent a surgical challenge for the surgeon due to their physiological characteristics and reduced surgical spaces. During the last decade, minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has been adopted as a treatment for this group of patients., Objective: To report our experiences of MIS on NB weighing less than 2,500 grams., Patients and Method: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted analyzing the records of newborns weighing less than 2,500 g and subjected to MIS between April, 2009 and 2012. No patients were excluded., Results: 25 newborns participated on this study; among the treated conditions, congenital diaphragmatic hernia (1), Esophageal Atresia (4 complete repairs and 2 fistula ligation), duodenal obstruction (7), Gastroesophageal reflux disease (6 Nissen procedures, 4 including gastrostomy), Laparoscopic gastrostomy (2) Intestinal obstruction (two bowel resections, end to end anastomosis), and Hypertrophic pyloric stenosis (1). The average weight was 1,920 g (1,300-2,490 g) and 10 of the infants were preterm newborns. 3 mm instruments were used, 5 mm optic 30°. Neither intraoperative complications nor conversions were observed. A patient with tracheoesophageal atresia presented a fistula at the site of anastomosis with spontaneous resolution., Conclusions: MIS has revolutionized surgery, resulting in less intestinal adhesions, postoperative pain, shorter hospital stays and better aesthetic results. Due to the availability of smaller size materials, these procedures could be performed safely.