Esophageal atresia

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An oesophageal atresia refers to an absence in the contiguity of the oesophagus due to an inappropriate division of the primitive foregut into the trachea and oesophagus. This is the most common congenital anomaly of the oesophagus. 

Epidemiology

It is thought to occur in ~1:3000-4500 live births 3.

Clinical presentation

Oesophageal atresia may be suspected on antenatal ultrasound (see below) or in the neonate due to inability to swallow saliva or milk, aspiration during early feedings, or failure to successfully pass a catheter into the stomach.

Pathology

It results from a failure of the primitive foregut to divide in tointo the trachea anteriorly and the oesophagus posteriorly. This usually occurs at ~ the 4th week of gestation.

General pathogenesis includes teratogenic effects caused by early pregnancy use of antithyroid drugs 7

Genetics

Most cases have a sporadic occurrence 6.

Subtypes

It is frequently associated with a tracheo-oesophageal fistula. As such, the types of oesophageal atresia / tracheo-oesophageal fistula can be divided into 4:

  • proximal atresia with distal fistula: 85%
  • isolated oesophageal atresia: 8-9%
  • isolated fistula (H-type): 4-6%
  • double fistula with intervening atresia: 1-2%
  • proximal fistula with distal atresia: 1%

See main article:oesophageal atresia classification.

Associations

Oesophageal atresias are frequently associated with various other anomalies (50-75% of cases). They include

Radiographic features

Plain radiograph

Chest x-ray:

  • may show a dilated pharyngeal pouch
  • the presence of air in the stomach and bowel in the setting of oesophageal atresia implies that there is a distal fistula
  • if an oesophago-gastricoesophagogastric (feeding) tube insertion has been attempted this may show the tube blind looping and turning back at the upper thoracic part of the oesophagus or heading into the trachea and/or bronchial tree
Fluoroscopy

Contrast swallow may show contrast blindly ending and pooling in an oesophageal stump and/or may show evidence of the tracheo-oesophageal fistula. Fluoroscopy is particularly useful in demonstrating H-type fistula.

Antenatal ultrasound
CT
  • has been trialled for 3D detailed visualisation of anatomy but not part of routine investigation 3

Treatment and prognosis

Surgical intervention with a re-anastomosis can be attempted post delivery. The prognosis is variable dependent on other associated anomalies. 

Oesophageal strictures secondary to surgical correction of esophagealoesophagal atresia is a known complication toof the procedure and usually requires further surgical correction.

  • -<p>An <strong>oesophageal atresia</strong> refers to an absence in contiguity of the oesophagus due to an inappropriate division of the primitive foregut into the <a href="/articles/trachea">trachea</a> and <a href="/articles/oesophagus">oesophagus</a>. This is the most common congenital anomaly of the oesophagus. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>It is thought to occur in ~1:3000-4500 live births <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Oesophageal atresia may be suspected on antenatal ultrasound (see below) or in the neonate due to inability to swallow saliva or milk, aspiration during early feedings, or failure to successfully pass a catheter into the stomach.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>It results from a failure of the primitive foregut to divide in to the trachea anteriorly and the oesophagus posteriorly. This usually occurs at ~ the 4<sup>th</sup> week of gestation.</p><p>General pathogenesis includes teratogenic effects caused by <a href="/articles/birth-defects-linked-to-antithyroid-drug-treatment-in-pregnancy">early pregnancy use of antithyroid drugs</a> <sup>7</sup></p><h5>Genetics</h5><p>Most cases have a sporadic occurrence <sup>6</sup>.</p><h5>Subtypes</h5><p>It is frequently associated with a <a href="/articles/congenital-tracheo-oesophageal-fistula">tracheo-oesophageal fistula</a>. As such, the types of oesophageal atresia / tracheo-oesophageal fistula can be divided into <sup>4</sup>:</p><ul>
  • +<p>An <strong>oesophageal atresia</strong> refers to an absence in the contiguity of the oesophagus due to an inappropriate division of the primitive foregut into the <a href="/articles/trachea">trachea</a> and <a href="/articles/oesophagus">oesophagus</a>. This is the most common congenital anomaly of the oesophagus. </p><h4>Epidemiology</h4><p>It is thought to occur in ~1:3000-4500 live births <sup>3</sup>.</p><h4>Clinical presentation</h4><p>Oesophageal atresia may be suspected on antenatal ultrasound (see below) or in the neonate due to inability to swallow saliva or milk, aspiration during early feedings, or failure to successfully pass a catheter into the stomach.</p><h4>Pathology</h4><p>It results from a failure of the primitive foregut to divide into the trachea anteriorly and the oesophagus posteriorly. This usually occurs at ~ the 4<sup>th</sup> week of gestation.</p><p>General pathogenesis includes teratogenic effects caused by <a href="/articles/birth-defects-linked-to-antithyroid-drug-treatment-in-pregnancy">early pregnancy use of antithyroid drugs</a> <sup>7</sup></p><h5>Genetics</h5><p>Most cases have a sporadic occurrence <sup>6</sup>.</p><h5>Subtypes</h5><p>It is frequently associated with a <a href="/articles/congenital-tracheo-oesophageal-fistula">tracheo-oesophageal fistula</a>. As such, the types of oesophageal atresia / tracheo-oesophageal fistula can be divided into <sup>4</sup>:</p><ul>
  • -<li>if an oesophago-gastric (feeding) tube insertion has been attempted this may show the tube blind looping and turning back at the upper thoracic part of the oesophagus or heading into the trachea and/or bronchial tree</li>
  • +<li>if an oesophagogastric (feeding) tube insertion has been attempted this may show the tube blind looping and turning back at the upper thoracic part of the oesophagus or heading into the trachea and/or bronchial tree</li>
  • -<li>non specific and but may not show the expected shape and position of the stomach</li>
  • +<li>non-specific and but may not show the expected shape and position of the stomach</li>
  • -<li>the subtypes without a tracheo-oesophageal fistula may be suspected in the context of persistent <a href="/articles/absent-fetal-stomach-on-ultrasound-differential">non visualisation of the fetal stomach</a>
  • +<li>the subtypes without a tracheo-oesophageal fistula may be suspected in the context of persistent <a href="/articles/absent-fetal-stomach-on-ultrasound-differential">non-visualisation of the fetal stomach</a>
  • -</li></ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Surgical intervention with a re-anastomosis can be attempted post delivery. The prognosis is variable dependent on other associated anomalies. </p><p><a href="/articles/oesophageal-stricture">Oesophageal strictures</a> secondary to surgical correction of esophageal atresia is a known complication to the procedure and usually requires further surgical correction.</p>
  • +</li></ul><h4>Treatment and prognosis</h4><p>Surgical intervention with a re-anastomosis can be attempted post delivery. The prognosis is variable dependent on other associated anomalies. </p><p><a href="/articles/oesophageal-stricture">Oesophageal strictures</a> secondary to surgical correction of oesophagal atresia is a known complication of the procedure and usually requires further surgical correction.</p>

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