Find information on thousands of medical conditions and prescription drugs.

Esophageal atresia

Esophageal atresia is a congenital medical condition (birth defect) which affects the alimentary tract. It causes the esophagus to end in a blind-ended pouch rather than connecting normally to the stomach. It occurs in approximately 1 in 4425 live births. more...

Home
Diseases
A
B
C
D
E
Ebola hemorrhagic fever
Ebstein's anomaly
Eclampsia
Ectodermal Dysplasia
Ectopic pregnancy
Ectrodactyly
Edwards syndrome
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome
Ehrlichiosis
Eisoptrophobia
Elective mutism
Electrophobia
Elephantiasis
Ellis-Van Creveld syndrome
Emetophobia
Emphysema
Encephalitis
Encephalitis lethargica
Encephalocele
Encephalomyelitis
Encephalomyelitis, Myalgic
Endocarditis
Endocarditis, infective
Endometriosis
Endomyocardial fibrosis
Enetophobia
Enterobiasis
Eosinophilia-myalgia...
Eosinophilic fasciitis
Eosophobia
Ependymoma
Epicondylitis
Epidermolysis bullosa
Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis
Epididymitis
Epilepsy
Epiphyseal stippling...
Epistaxiophobia
EPP (erythropoietic...
Epstein barr virus...
Equinophobia
Ergophobia
Erysipelas
Erythema multiforme
Erythermalgia
Erythroblastopenia
Erythromelalgia
Erythroplakia
Erythropoietic...
Esophageal atresia
Esophageal varices
Esotropia
Essential hypertension
Essential thrombocythemia
Essential thrombocytopenia
Essential thrombocytosis
Euphobia
Evan's syndrome
Ewing's Sarcoma
Exencephaly
Exophthalmos
Exostoses
Exploding head syndrome
Hereditary Multiple...
Hereditary Multiple...
Hereditary Multiple...
Hereditary Multiple...
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Medicines

This condition takes several different forms, often involving one or more fistulas connecting the trachea to the esophagus (tracheoesophageal fistula). Approximately 85% of affected babies will have a 'lower fistula'.

This birth defect arises in the fourth fetal week, when the trachea and esophagus should begin to separate from each other. Other birth defects may co-exist, particularly in the heart, but sometimes also in the anus, spinal column, or kidneys.

This condition is visible some time shortly before birth on an ultrasound, or it may be detected soon after birth as the affected infant will be unable to swallow its own saliva. Any attempt at feeding could cause aspiration pneumonia as the milk collects in the blind pouch and overflows into the trachea and lungs. Furthermore, a fistula between the lower esophagus and trachea may allow stomach acid to flow into the lungs and cause damage. Because of these dangers, the condition must be treated as soon as possible after birth.

Treatments for the condition vary depending on its severity. The most immediate and effective treatment in the majority of cases is a surgical repair to close the fistula/s and reconnect the two ends of the esophagus to each other. This is not possible in all cases, since the gap between upper and lower esophageal segments may be too long to bridge. In this situation, a gastrostomy is performed, allowing tube feedings into the stomach through the abdominal wall, and often a cervical esophagostomy will also be done, to allow the saliva which is swallowed to drain out a hole in the neck. Months or years later, the esophagus may be repaired, sometimes by using a segment of bowel brought up into the chest, interposing between the upper and lower segments of esophagus.

Post operative complications sometimes arise, including a leak at the site of closure of the esophagus. Sometimes a stricture, or tight spot, will develop in the esophagus, making it difficult to swallow. This can usually be dilated using medical instruments. In later life, most children with this disorder will have some trouble with either swallowing or heartburn or both.

Read more at Wikipedia.org


[List your site here Free!]


Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula
From American Family Physician, 2/15/99

What is esophageal atresia?

In babies with esophageal atresia, the esophagus doesn't go into the stomach. It just ends in a pouch, so nothing the baby swallows gets into the stomach. (This is how you say these words: ee-sof-ah-gee-all at-tree- see-ah; tray-key-oh-ee-sof-ah-gee-all fist-you-lah.)

What is a tracheoesophageal fistula? A fistula is a connection between two tubes. The breathing tube that connects the nose and mouth with the lungs is called the trachea. The esophagus is the swallowing tube. The breathing tube and the swallowing tube aren't supposed to be connected. But when a child has a tracheoesophageal fistula, the fistula connects the two tubes. This means that food or milk in the stomach can get into the lungs. This can cause breathing problems and even pneumonia (new- mone-yah).

What causes atresia and fistula?

We don't really know what causes these problems. When the esophagus and the trachea grow in the embryo, they start from the same bit of tissue. Sometimes the tubes don't develop right. We don't think these problems are inherited.

Are these problems common?

About one baby out of 4,000 babies has one or both of these problems. They usually occur together. But sometimes a baby has atresia with no fistula.

How does the doctor know this is what's wrong with my baby? Most babies with this condition have feeding problems right away. They may spit up a lot or have lots of bubbly mucus in their mouth. If your baby has a fistula, breathing may be hard. If your doctor thinks your baby has one of these conditions, an x-ray can help make the diagnosis.

How is this problem fixed?

Your baby will need surgery to fix the problem. First, the swallowing tube must be connected to the stomach. Then, if a fistula is connecting the esophagus to the trachea, it must be closed. Your child's doctor will decide when to do the surgery. If the baby isn't premature and doesn't have any other problems (like pneumonia or birth defects), the surgery can usually be done when the baby is just a few days old.

How long will my baby be sick?

It depends. If your baby was premature, the recovery time is affected. Another factor is how complicated the operation is. If the surgery is harder, it takes a few days longer for your baby to recover. Your baby will stay in the hospital during this time.

In less complicated cases, your baby may be eating by one week after surgery. Meanwhile, until your baby can swallow milk or formula, your baby will be fed through a vein (this is called an "IV") or through a stomach tube. Before regular feeding starts, an x-ray can check for holes at the place the surgeon fixed.

Does my baby have any other problems? Some babies with esophageal atresia have heart problems, kidney problems, stomach and bowel problems, or muscle and bone problems. A physical exam by your doctor, maybe with some other x-ray or ultrasound pictures, will usually show if your baby has other problems. If your baby has other problems, the surgery to fix the swallowing tube might have to wait.

Will my baby have other problems in the future?

Babies born with esophageal atresia sometimes have long-term problems. Probably the most common problem is gastroesophageal reflux disease, or "GERD." GERD is what doctors call heartburn. Heartburn is a burning feeling caused by acid that comes up from the stomach into the swallowing tube. GERD can usually be treated with medicine.

Another problem is scar tissue. Sometimes scar tissue grows where the esophagus connects to the stomach. This scar tissue can make swallowing hard or painful because the food can't get past the scar tissue easily. Sometimes another surgery is needed to open the scar tissue.

Your child may need more x-rays or endoscopy later. Endoscopy is a way of taking a picture. A narrow tube holding a tiny camera is put into the swallowing tube. The picture helps your doctor see that the surgery is working.

COPYRIGHT 1999 American Academy of Family Physicians
COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group

Return to Esophageal atresia
Home Contact Resources Exchange Links ebay