Why is this procedure done?
Esophageal atresia or EA is a problem of the babys food pipe or esophagus. Normally, when your baby swallows, food moves from their mouth, through the food pipe, down into the stomach. With EA, the food pipe is short and not connected to the stomach. Food and saliva cannot pass through. Your baby needs surgery to connect the food pipe and the stomach. ‚
Most of the time when a baby has EA, they also have a tracheoesophageal fistula or TEF. A TEF happens when there is a connection between the trachea, or windpipe, and the food pipe. With TEF, the food and saliva can pass from the food pipe though the windpipe into the lungs. Your baby will often have problems breathing if they have a TEF. Your baby needs surgery to disconnect the windpipe from the food pipe. Until the surgery is done, your baby will need to be fed by I.V. or by a tube placed in the stomach. ‚
Your baby may have one or both of these problems. Surgery may need to wait until your child grows. When the food pipe is very short, the doctor will stretch the food pipe in a few stages before doing the final surgery. ‚
What will the results be?
The food pipe will connect to the stomach, and the windpipe will connect to the lungs. There will not be any connections between the food pipe and windpipe. ‚
What happens before the procedure?
Your doctor will take your childs history. Talk to the doctor about: ‚
- All the drugs your child is taking. Be sure to include all prescription, over the counter, and herbal supplements. Tell the doctor if your child has any drug allergy. Bring a list of drugs your child takes with you.
- Any bleeding problems. Be sure to tell your doctor if your child is taking any drugs that may cause bleeding. Some of these are: Coumadin, ibuprofen, Aleve (naproxen), or aspirin. Certain vitamins and herbs, such as garlic and fish oil, may also add to the risk for bleeding. Your child may need to stop these drugs as well. Talk to your doctor about them.
What happens during the procedure?
- Once your child is in the operating room, the staff will put an IV in your childs arm to give them fluids and drugs. Your child will be given a drug to make them sleepy. It will also help your child stay pain free during the surgery.
- When your child is asleep, the doctors will put a tube in your child's mouth to help them breathe. Your child will have a tube in their bladder to drain urine.
- The doctor may also put another small tube called a gastrostomy tube, or G-tube, in your child's stomach. This tube drains out any fluid that might be in the stomach during surgery. The G-tube may stay in place and, later, be used to give your child food.
- The doctor will make a cut in the right side of your child's chest. The doctor will work to sew the ends of the food pipe back together. Then the doctor will close off the connection between the windpipe and the food pipe.
- Your doctor will close the cut on the chest with stitches or staples and cover it with clean bandages.
- The surgery may take 2 to 3 hours.
What happens after the procedure?
- Your child will go to the recovery room after surgery. The staff will watch your child closely. The doctor may give your child drugs for pain.
- Your child may need a machine to help them breathe.
- Your child will either have a tube in their nose or in the stomach to drain fluid for a few days before they are able to start eating.
What follow-up care is needed?
- Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your child 's progress. Be sure to keep these visits.
- If your child has stitches or staples, you will need to have them taken out. Your doctor will often want to do this in 1 to 2 weeks.
What problems could happen?
- Food pipe narrows
- Windpipe narrows or becomes noisy with breathing
- Infection
- Bleeding
- Air on the outside of the lung
- The connection, or fistula, forms again
- Food leaks out of the food pipe
- Frequent throwing up, reflux disease, or GERD
- Frequent pneumonia
Where can I learn more?
American Academy of Family Physicians ‚
http://familydoctor.org/familydoctor/en/diseases-conditions/esophageal-atresia-and-tracheoesophageal-fistula.printerview.all.html ‚
Genetics Home Reference ‚
http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/esophageal-atresia-tracheoesophageal-fistula ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/oesophageal-atresia/Pages/Introduction.aspx ‚
Last Reviewed Date
2015-04-13 ‚
List_set bdysylist
- Gastrointestinal
- Neonatal
- Pediatric
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care provider 's advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
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