Abstract

In a retrospective study of 227 cases of oesophageal atresia born in the south-west of England, the incidence was 0·34 per 1,000 births. Taking estimated dates of conception, there were no statistically significant yearly or monthly trends. There was a statistically significant winter excess of conceptions in the offspring of primigravidae but not multigravidae. Examination of the data for clustering, using a time-interval analysis, failed to show an increased risk of a case occurring within four weeks of a previous case. It is concluded that oesophageal atresia is aetiologically heterogeneous.