Esophageal Atresia

Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula

Malformation of the esophagus

Overview

Esophagus is a tube connecting the throat to the stomach and trachea is a tube which connects the throat to the windpipe and lungs. Tracheoesophageal fistula is a birth defect involving an abnormal connection between both tubes.

Both these tubes are normally separate. If otherwise, this can result in esophageal atresia, a condition in which milk and other fluids are inhaled into the baby’s lungs. It occurs during fetal development and becomes apparent right after birth.

Symptoms

The most common signs and symptoms are:

Difficulty in Breathing

Coughing or Choking while Feeding

Frothy White Bubbles in Mouth

Bluish Discoloration of Skin

Causes

Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula can be caused due to:

Diagnosis

Other than regular physical examination, a doctor may require to perform some tests to determine the best way of treatment. The tests may include:

X-Ray

Endoscopy

When to See a Doctor

Make an appointment right away if any worrisome symptoms appear.

Treatment

Treatment mainly depends on the type of abnormality and the overall health of the baby. Surgery is usually recommended by doctors to treat Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula.

It can be either done by either an open surgical procedure or minimally invasive technique which involves making a small incision in the child’s neck or back, wherever the TEF is located. This will help the surgeon to access the gap between the upper and lower part of the esophagus. After that, the connection between the esophagus and the trachea is closed followed by repairing the hole in the esophagus. Sometimes, multiple surgeries are required depending on the type of abnormality.

Surgeons at Curadors have successfully performed several such procedures over a period of 15 years. Our partnered facility, Maroof International Hospital has state-of-the-art operation theaters equipped with the world’s most advanced equipment to provide the best quality treatment to our patients.

Risks, Complications & Preventions

There is hardly any recurrence of TEF after the surgical procedure. However, children with EA/TEF can experience gastroesophageal reflux which causes heartburn, inflammation of the esophagus, and swallowing problems. Recurrent chest infections and asthma are also observed in the first few years after the surgery. Routine follow-up with the doctor is advised to prevent any further complications.