children s health issues
Esophageal Atresia and Tracheoesophageal Fistula
Treatment
Surgery Before surgery to repair the defects can be done, preparations are done to prevent complications such as aspiration pneumonia. First, feedings by mouth are stopped, and a tube is placed in the upper esophagus to continuously suction saliva before it can reach the lungs. Then the infant is fed by vein (intravenously). Surgery needs to be done soon after birth to establish a normal connection between the esophagus and stomach and to close the fistula. Some complications may develop after surgery. Leakage and scar tissue at the site where the esophagus was reconnected are the most common problems. Many children have feeding difficulties. About half of children who have feeding difficulties develop Gastroesophageal Reflux in Children (the backward movement of food and acid from the stomach into the esophagus), so doctors may give medications that suppress stomach acid to newborns who had esophageal atresia. If the medications do not control the reflux, a procedure called fundoplication is done. In fundoplication, the surgeon wraps the top of the stomach around the lower end of the esophagus to make that junction tighter and decrease reflux. 