Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia repair

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TEF repair; Esophageal atresia repair

Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia can usually be corrected surgically. If the two parts of the esophagus are too short, further surgery may be needed and a gastrostomy tube may be temporarily used for feedings.

After surgery, the infant will be cared for in a hospital's neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). The infant will be placed in a machine called an isolette (incubator) to provide warmth and prevent infection.

Additional treatments after surgery usually include:

• Oxygen
• Breathing assistance (mechanical ventilation)
• Intravenous fluids
• Antibiotics as needed
• Pain medicines as needed

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A tube placed through the nose into the stomach will keep the stomach empty. Feedings are started through this tube as soon as bowel function starts again. Feedings are started very slowly, and often infants are slow to feed. The baby may need feeding therapy and lots of encouragement. How long a baby stays in the hospital depends on seriousness of the surgery and the baby's condition.

Review Date: 10/16/2006
Reviewed By: J.A. Lee, M.D., Assistant Professor of Surgery, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org).