BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuEsophageal atresiaEsophageal atresia is a birth defect in which the esophagus does not develop properly. The esophagus is the tube that normally carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Causes Esophageal atresia (EA) is a congenital defect. This means it occurs before birth. There are several types of EA. In most cases, the upper esophagus ends and does not connect with the lower esophagus and stomach.Most infants with EA have another defect called tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). This is an abnormal connection between the esophagus and the windpipe (trachea).Often, infants with EA/TEF also have tracheomalacia. When this occurs, the walls of the trachea are weak and floppy, causing high-pitched or noisy breathing.TracheomalaciaCongenital tracheomalacia is weakness and floppiness of the walls of the windpipe (trachea). Congenital means it is present at birth. Acquired trac...Read Article Now Book Mark Article At least half of babies with EA/TEF have other defects as well, most often heart defects. Symptoms Symptoms of EA may include:Bluish coloration to the skin (cyanosis), often with attempted feeding Coughing, gagging, and choking with attempted feeding Drooling or vomiting Poor feeding Exams and Tests Before birth, a mother's ultrasound may show more amniotic fluid than usual. This can be a sign of EA or other blockage of the baby's digestive tract. If EA is present, the baby’s stomach may be hard to see on the ultrasound.EA is usually found shortly after birth when saliva and fluids collect in the esophagus. This causes the baby to cough, choke, and sometimes turn blue. The health care provider will try to pass a small feeding tube through the infant's mouth or nose into the stomach. If the feeding tube can't pass all the way to the stomach, the infant likely has EA.An x-ray may also show:An air-filled pouch in the esophagus Air in the stomach and intestineOnce EA is confirmed, other tests may include:An echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to look for any heart defects Imaging to look for other defects that can occur in the spine, limbs, or kidney Treatment EA is an emergency. Surgery is done as soon as possible after birth.SurgeryTracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia repair is surgery to repair two birth defects in the esophagus and trachea. The defects usually occ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article First, any connection between the esophagus and the airway must be blocked. This will prevent damage to the lungs. The esophagus will be connected to the stomach. This may take time to complete, depending on the gap between the esophagus and the stomach.Before the surgery, and for some time afterward, the baby is not fed by mouth. Instead, the baby is fed either:Through a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) so that the baby can be fed directly into the stomach, or Nutrition given through the veinsCare is taken to keep the baby from breathing saliva or other fluids into the lungs. Outlook (Prognosis) An early diagnosis gives a better chance of a good outcome. Possible Complications The infant may breathe saliva or other fluids into the lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia, choking, and possibly death.Other complications may include:Feeding problems Reflux (the repeated bringing up of food from the stomach) after surgery Narrowing (stricture) of the esophagus due to scarring from surgeryPrematurity may complicate the condition. As noted above, there may also be defects in other areas of the body.PrematurityA premature infant is a baby born before 37 completed weeks of gestation (more than 3 weeks before the due date).Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional This disorder is usually diagnosed shortly after birth.Contact your baby's provider right away if the baby vomits repeatedly after feedings, or if the baby develops breathing difficulties.Open ReferencesReferencesDingeldein M. Selected gastrointestinal anomalies in the neonate. In: Martin RJ, Fanaroff AA, Walsh MC, eds. Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 84.Rothenberg SS. Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula malformations. In: Holcomb GW, Murphy JP, St. Peter SD, eds. Holcomb and Ashcraft's Pediatric Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 27.Wolf RB. Abdominal imaging. In: Resnik R, Lockwood CJ, Moore TR, Greene MF, Copel JA, Silver RM, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 26.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Blue discoloration of the skin(Symptoms)Premature infant(Condition)Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia repair(Surgery) Review Date: 7/18/2021 Reviewed By: Kimberly G. Lee, MD, MSc, IBCLC, Clinical Professor of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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Esophageal atresiaEsophageal atresia is a birth defect in which the esophagus does not develop properly. The esophagus is the tube that normally carries food from the mouth to the stomach. Causes Esophageal atresia (EA) is a congenital defect. This means it occurs before birth. There are several types of EA. In most cases, the upper esophagus ends and does not connect with the lower esophagus and stomach.Most infants with EA have another defect called tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). This is an abnormal connection between the esophagus and the windpipe (trachea).Often, infants with EA/TEF also have tracheomalacia. When this occurs, the walls of the trachea are weak and floppy, causing high-pitched or noisy breathing.TracheomalaciaCongenital tracheomalacia is weakness and floppiness of the walls of the windpipe (trachea). Congenital means it is present at birth. Acquired trac...Read Article Now Book Mark Article At least half of babies with EA/TEF have other defects as well, most often heart defects. Symptoms Symptoms of EA may include:Bluish coloration to the skin (cyanosis), often with attempted feeding Coughing, gagging, and choking with attempted feeding Drooling or vomiting Poor feeding Exams and Tests Before birth, a mother's ultrasound may show more amniotic fluid than usual. This can be a sign of EA or other blockage of the baby's digestive tract. If EA is present, the baby’s stomach may be hard to see on the ultrasound.EA is usually found shortly after birth when saliva and fluids collect in the esophagus. This causes the baby to cough, choke, and sometimes turn blue. The health care provider will try to pass a small feeding tube through the infant's mouth or nose into the stomach. If the feeding tube can't pass all the way to the stomach, the infant likely has EA.An x-ray may also show:An air-filled pouch in the esophagus Air in the stomach and intestineOnce EA is confirmed, other tests may include:An echocardiogram (ultrasound of the heart) to look for any heart defects Imaging to look for other defects that can occur in the spine, limbs, or kidney Treatment EA is an emergency. Surgery is done as soon as possible after birth.SurgeryTracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia repair is surgery to repair two birth defects in the esophagus and trachea. The defects usually occ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article First, any connection between the esophagus and the airway must be blocked. This will prevent damage to the lungs. The esophagus will be connected to the stomach. This may take time to complete, depending on the gap between the esophagus and the stomach.Before the surgery, and for some time afterward, the baby is not fed by mouth. Instead, the baby is fed either:Through a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) so that the baby can be fed directly into the stomach, or Nutrition given through the veinsCare is taken to keep the baby from breathing saliva or other fluids into the lungs. Outlook (Prognosis) An early diagnosis gives a better chance of a good outcome. Possible Complications The infant may breathe saliva or other fluids into the lungs, causing aspiration pneumonia, choking, and possibly death.Other complications may include:Feeding problems Reflux (the repeated bringing up of food from the stomach) after surgery Narrowing (stricture) of the esophagus due to scarring from surgeryPrematurity may complicate the condition. As noted above, there may also be defects in other areas of the body.PrematurityA premature infant is a baby born before 37 completed weeks of gestation (more than 3 weeks before the due date).Read Article Now Book Mark Article When to Contact a Medical Professional This disorder is usually diagnosed shortly after birth.Contact your baby's provider right away if the baby vomits repeatedly after feedings, or if the baby develops breathing difficulties.Open ReferencesReferencesDingeldein M. Selected gastrointestinal anomalies in the neonate. In: Martin RJ, Fanaroff AA, Walsh MC, eds. Fanaroff and Martin's Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 84.Rothenberg SS. Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula malformations. In: Holcomb GW, Murphy JP, St. Peter SD, eds. Holcomb and Ashcraft's Pediatric Surgery. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 27.Wolf RB. Abdominal imaging. In: Resnik R, Lockwood CJ, Moore TR, Greene MF, Copel JA, Silver RM, eds. Creasy and Resnik's Maternal-Fetal Medicine: Principles and Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 26.
