What is esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula?

Some babies are born with an esophagus that doesn't connect to the stomach. The esophagus is the tube that connects the throat to the stomach. If the tube doesn't reach the stomach, your baby's food stays in the tube. It can't be digested. This is called esophageal atresia (say "ee-sof-uh-JEE-ul uh-TREE-zhuh"). It's often called EA.

Next to the esophagus is the trachea, or windpipe. Your baby breathes through this tube. If there's an opening between the esophagus and the trachea, stomach juices and saliva may be breathed into the lungs. This can cause choking, breathing problems, or pneumonia. This is called tracheoesophageal fistula (say "TRAYK-ee-oh-uh-sof-uh-JEE-ul FIST-yoo-luh"). It's often called TEF.

EA and TEF often happen together. They are congenital conditions. This means your baby was born with them.

• Your baby will need surgery to repair the esophagus and trachea. If your baby has both, the surgeries may be done together or at separate times.
  • For EA, the doctor will connect the two parts of the esophagus. This will complete the path between the mouth and the stomach. Sometimes the two parts are too far apart for the ends to meet. In these cases, the surgery may be delayed for up to 3 months while the esophagus grows longer. In the meantime, your baby may be fed through a thin, soft tube that goes into the stomach through the belly. Your baby may need more than one surgery to repair the esophagus.
  • For TEF, the doctor will close the opening between the esophagus and the trachea so your baby can breathe normally.
• Your baby will be asleep during surgery.