Tracheoesophageal Fistula (TEF, TOF) I Nucleus Health

you a trachea esophageal fistula is a birth defect in which the esophagus has an abnormal connection to the trachea the esophagus is the tube that food

Passes through from the mouth to the stomach and the trachea is the windpipe that air passes through from the mouth and nose to the lungs the trachea forms during the sixth week of pregnancy

Here you can see the tube that will eventually form all the organs of the digestive system the trachea and lungs grow from the part of the digestive tube that will eventually become the esophagus

For unknown reasons the esophagus and trachea may grow and separate abnormally during this time the esophagus may end in a blind pouch with missing gaps and be abnormally narrow this absence or narrowing of a natural body passageway

Is called atresia the esophagus and trachea may also have an abnormal connection called a trachea esophageal fistula here we see the most common type of trachea esophageal fistula in a newborn

Infant the upper esophagus ends in a blind pouch and the lower esophagus connects to the trachea this is a serious problem because stomach contents can travel up the esophagus and pass through the fistula

Into the trachea and lungs and also cause difficulty breathing for the newborn since air can now bypass the lungs and enter the stomach before a trachea esophageal fistula repair procedure an intravenous line

Will be started the baby may be given antibiotics through the IV to decrease the chance of infection the baby will be given general anesthesia which will put the baby to sleep for the entire operation a breathing tube will be

Inserted through the mouth and down the throat to help the baby breathe during the operation the surgeon will make an incision in the baby's chest usually on the right side through the incision the surgeon will

Gently move the lungs aside to view the trachea and esophagus after identifying the trachea esophageal fistula the surging will slowly close the fistulas connection to the trachea with sutures then cut the connection

Away from the trachea the fistulas connection to the esophagus will also be cut and the fistula will be removed next the surgeon will make an incision at the end of the upper esophagus to open it

Then the upper and lower esophagus will be connected with sutures finally the surgeon will insert a surgical drain in the chest and close the incision with sutures after the procedure the baby will

Continue to use the breathing tube until they've healed enough to breathe on their own the baby will be taken to the neonatal intensive care unit for monitoring pain medication will be given

The baby may continue to receive antibiotics through the IV babies are released from the hospital when they're able to eat enough to maintain their weight which may be after two weeks or longer