US surgery goes well for Dublin baby

A US MEDICAL team has succeeded in “growing” the oesophagus of a Dublin toddler twin who spent Christmas in an induced coma.

Elie Madden (1) spent 38 days in the coma as part of the surgical procedure after she was flown to Boston in November in the Government jet.

Her mother, Esti Madden, said yesterday her daughter was over the most critical part of her treatment, but still faced three more operations. “It has been a big success, and it is great to see that she is back with us again, although she is still heavily sedated.

“We had our Christmas a few days ago in intensive care when she came around and we could see her smile again,” she said.

Elie was diagnosed with a rare digestive disorder at birth known as severe posterior tracheomalacia and long-gap oesophageal atresia. This resulted in a five- centimetre gap between her oesophagus and stomach, preventing her from being able to eat, drink or swallow without medical equipment.

She has already undergone a number of operations in Ireland for a related heart condition. Her twin sister, Emie, was born in good health.

Late last year, the Air Corps flew the toddler, her mother, twin sister and grandmother Anita to Boston, along with a specialist team from the Health Service Executive. It was the first time that the State’s Gulfstream IV had been used for a transatlantic air ambulance mission of this type.

Children’s Hospital Boston has expertise in treating the condition, using a procedure known as the Foker technique, named after the doctor who developed a method of stimulating the oesophagus to allow it to grow, and who came out of retirement to assist in this case.

As it involves applying tension sutures, an induced coma was necessary to ensure Elie remained still throughout the treatment, Mrs Madden explained.

“We were able to see images this week of her oesophagus, which has joined her stomach, and it was wonderful,” she said, paying tribute to the medical team and to friends and family.

Following Elie’s first surgery in early December, doctors discovered other complications. She will require three operations to treat for reflux and to repair her airway so she can breathe on her own.

The HSE and VHI are supporting the cost of the treatment, but the Maddens’ stay in Boston has required extensive fundraising by friends and supporters.

After she was born by emergency Caesarean, Elie spent nine months in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin, Dublin, and was then treated at home with 16-hour daily medical care in Santry. She had required a suction tube through her nose and regular ventilation treatment.

“The alternative for Elie would be a lifetime of medical complications,” her father, Eddie, had said before the first operation.