Esophageal atresia: symptoms, causes, treatment, etc.

Definition

What is esophageal atresia?

Esophageal atresia is a birth defect in a baby when your little one's esophagus doesn't develop properly because a part of the esophagus is missing.

The esophagus, aka esophagus, is a tube or conduit between the mouth and stomach that functions to drain food.

Esophageal atresia is a condition that is also called esophageal atresia. During the early stages of development from the time they are in the womb, the baby's esophagus (esophagus) and throat (trachea) are a single channel.

Normally, over time the single channel will split into two adjacent parts.

The process of dividing these two channels usually takes about 4-8 weeks after conception.

If the separation of the two channels occurs properly and correctly, the esophagus and throat tract will automatically be divided into two parts completely.

Conversely, when the separation process or division does not occur properly it can lead to esophageal or atresia esophageal atresia.

Esophageal atresia is a condition in which the upper part of the esophagus (esophagus) does not properly connect to the lower part of the esophagus to the stomach.

In other words, the baby is experiencing esophageal atresia has two separate parts of the esophagus that are not connected to each other, namely the upper and lower esophagus.

As a result, babies with esophageal atresia often have difficulty when getting the food that enters from the mouth to the stomach.

Even sometimes, babies with this one birth defect can also have difficulty breathing.

How common is this condition?

Esophageal atresia is a rare or rare birth defect in babies. According to the U.S National Library of Medicine, esophageal atresia is a condition that can occur in 1 in 3 thousand to 5 thousand newborns.

Nearly about 90% of babies are born with esophageal atresia also have a tracheoesophageal fistula or tracheoesophageal fistula.

Slightly different from esophageal atresia, tracheoesophageal fissures are conditions when the connection between the esophageal tract and throat is abnormal.

This condition makes the fluid that enters from the esophagus flow into the airways so that it interferes with the baby's breathing.

Although generally esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fissula occur simultaneously, there are very few babies who have only one of these conditions.

Signs & Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of esophageal atresia?

Signs and symptoms of esophageal atresiausually will be obvious soon after the baby is born.

Common symptoms of esophageal atresia are as follows:

There are white foamy bubbles coming out of the baby's mouth.
The baby often coughs or the baby chokes while feeding.
Baby's skin is blue, especially when breastfeeding.
Babies have difficulty breathing.

When to see a doctor?

If you see that your baby has any of the above signs, symptoms, or other questions, please consult a doctor immediately. The health condition of each person's body is different, including babies.

Always consult a doctor in order to get the best treatment regarding the health condition of your baby.

Cause

What causes esophageal atresia?

Esophageal atresia is a congenital birth defect in babies, which means that it occurs before your little one is born. So far it is not certain what causes esophageal atresia or esophageal atresia.

However, the presence of genetic or congenital abnormalities in infants is believed to be a potential cause esophageal atresia. In addition, factors from the environment may also contribute to the condition of this baby's birth defects.

What are the types of esophageal atresia?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), esophageal atresiadivided into four types or types.

Some types of esophageal atresia are as follows:

Type A

Type A esophageal atresia is a condition when the top and bottom of the esophagus (esophagus) are not connected to the ends, aka closed.

That way, this condition makes no part of the esophagus stick to or touch the throat (trachea).

Type B

Type B esophageal atresia is a condition when the top of the esophagus is attached to the throat, but the bottom of the esophagus has a closed end. Type B is very rare in babies.

Type C

Type C esophageal atresia is when the top of the esophagus has a closed end while the bottom is attached to the throat (trachea).

Type C is among the conditions most commonly experienced by newborns.

Type D

Type D esophageal atresia is a condition when the upper and lower parts of the esophagus are not connected, but are connected separately to the throat.

Type D is one of the rarest and most severe conditions for congenital defects.

Risk Factors

What increases the risk of developing esophageal atresia?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) outlines several factors that can increase the risk of occurrence esophageal atresiain babies.

Some of the risks of esophageal atresia in infants are as follows:

Father's age

If the father's age when the mother was pregnant with the baby is already old, the risk is likely to have a baby with esophageal atresiawill increase even more.

Use of assisted reproductive technology

Women who use assisted reproductive technology orassisted reproductive technology tend to be at a higher risk for having a baby with the condition esophageal atresia.

Assisted reproductive technology is an effort made so that a woman can get pregnant using fertility procedures, one example of which is IVF.

In contrast, women who do not use assisted reproductive technology have a lower risk of having a baby with esophageal atresia.

It is better, if you are currently pregnant or planning a pregnancy, consult with your doctor about ways to increase the chances that the baby in the womb is healthy and avoid birth defects.

Medicines & Medicines

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the usual tests to diagnose esophageal atresia?

Esophageal atresiararely diagnosed during pregnancy. Even if there is, the condition of birth defects in these babies is usually detected by performing routine ultrasound examinations (USG).

Esophageal atresia is the condition most often diagnosed after the baby is born. How to diagnose the presence esophageal atresiaafter the baby is born paying attention to whether he is choking or coughing the first time he tries to breastfeed.

In addition, inserting a tube into the baby's nose or mouth but unable to go down the stomach also helps detect this birth defect. The tube is a nasogastric tube or nasogastric tube (NGT).

Assisted X-rays or x-rays will help detect if there is a problem in the baby's esophagus.

What are the treatment options for esophageal atresia?

Treatment for esophageal atresia in infants is by performing surgery or surgery.

Operation on case esophageal atresiaThis aims to reconnect the two ends of the esophagus so that the baby can breathe and feed smoothly.

Under certain conditions, surgical procedures and other medications may be required.

This is especially given to babies whose esophageal passages are too narrow or small, making it difficult for food to pass. In addition, surgery is also performed on other conditions.

This occurs when, for example, when the esophageal muscles are not working well enough to move food into the stomach.

This also applies if food has entered the digestive system but moves up again into the esophagus.

Complications

What are the possible complications of this condition?

About nearly half of babies are born with the condition esophageal atresia have one or more additional birth defects.

Additional birth defects that may occur include problems with the digestive system, namely the intestines and anus, problems with the heart, kidneys, and ribs of the baby.

In addition to having a tracheoesophageal fistula, babies with esophageal atresia can also experience other complications such as tracheomalacia and heart defects.

Tracheomalacia is a condition where the windpipe wall weakens, resulting in noisy breathing.

On the other hand, various complications that may also be experienced by babies with esophageal atresia are as follows: