These are a very interesting questions. All studies I found on this subject were retrospective; the bias may result from the fact that complicated cases were done with a transanastomitic tube and simple without. What do you think is causing the stricture?

Mechanical irritation. I usually leave a (small) feeding tube if I do a primary anastomosis in a standard short-gap EA for early transanastomotic/gastric enteral feeds. If the kid has a gastrostomy, I don't because of the published study. So in my case it is the reverse, the easy cases get the tube.

It would be great to analyze this prospectively, but you would have to do an (international) multi-center study to power the study adequately.

I usually leave a (small calibre) feeding tube a case of primary anastomosis in a standard short-gap EA for early transanastomotic/gastric enteral feeds

How long do you leave it in place?

Are you considering leaving no tube because of the higher stricture rate described in the studies?

Are you aware of any other study looking at the association of Nasogastric tube and strictures?

Using transanastomotic tube during esophageal atresia repair is a routine in our center, we can start early feeding via the tube

Probably most pediatric surgeons leave a tube. I wonder if we can simply feed the kids early po and avoid any tube feeds if they are old enough to swallow adquate amounts.