Esophageal atresia without tracheoesophageal fistula accounts for 7-11% of all types of esophageal atresia and is very difficult to treat. In our hospital from 1990 to 2005, we operated upon 40 patients with esophageal atresia, and 6 had pure atresia. The preoperative characteristics, operative findings and post operative course of the six patients with pure atresia were analysed. Immediate gastrostomy was performed in all 6 patients. One patient had simultaneous cervical esophagostomy. Esophageal reconstruction procedures were transhiatal gastric pull up in 3 patients, esophagocologastrostomy utilizing left colon in 1, and transthoracic esophagoseophagostomy with esophageal bougination in 2. Postoperative complications were pneumonia, anastomosis leakage, and gastroesophageal reflux symptom. Conservative management was effective in all patients. A larger series of cases would be required to demonstrate the most effective treatment for this particular anomalous condition.
