Multidisciplinary coordination of care for children with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula

Abstract

Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Atresia (EA/TEF) is a multisystem congenital anomaly. Historically, children with EA/TEF lack coordinated care. A multidisciplinary clinic was established in 2005 to provide coordinated care and improve access to outpatient care. This single-center retrospective cohort study was conducted to describe our cohort of patients with EA/TEF born between March 2005 and March 2011, assess coordination of care, and to compare outcomes of children in the multidisciplinary clinic to the previous cohort without a multi-disciplinary clinic. A chart review identified demographics, hospitalizations, emergency visits, clinic visits, and coordination of outpatient care. Twenty-seven patients were included; 75.9% had a C-type EA/TEF. Clinics provided multidisciplinary care and compliance with the visit schedule was high with a median of 100% (IQR 50). Compared to the earlier cohort, the new cohort (N = 27) had fewer hospital admissions and LOS was reduced significantly in the first 2 years of life. Multidisciplinary care clinics for medically complex children can improve coordination of visits with multiple health care providers and may contribute to reduced use of acute care services.