Neutrophilic airway inflammation in children with repaired esophageal atresia-tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF)

Introduction A high proportion of children with repaired tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) have respiratory sequelae mainly due to tracheomalacia. Pathophysiologic mechanisms with mutual dependence include airway collapse, mucus retention, bacterial colonization, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary exacerbations, and development of bronchiectasis. In other lung diseases with chronic bronchitis such as primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) or protracted bacterial bronchitis (PBB), bronchiectasis and exacerbations are sequelae of neutrophilic inflammation and bacterial infection. Therefore, we aimed to describe the cellular inflammatory patterns and bacterial pathogens in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) in children with a history of TEF repair.