How is a tracheoesophageal fistula repaired?
Surgical repair of a TEF is an elective procedure. It consists of division of the fistula, suture of the esophagus and trachea and protection of the suture lines with a buttressed muscle flap. TEF repair is a complex and challenging procedure, thus, high morbidity and mortality are expected.
How common is tracheal esophageal fistula?
Tracheoesophageal fistula is also known as TE fistula or simply TEF. TE fistula is a birth defect, which occurs in 1 in 5,000 births, and occurs as a fetus is forming in its mother’s uterus.
What is trachea esophagus fistula?
What is tracheoesophageal fistula? Normally, the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat to the stomach) and the trachea (the tube connecting the throat to the windpipe and lungs) are separate. A tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is an abnormal connection between these two tubes.
How long does it take for an esophageal fistula to heal?
It is reported that the healing time is 3–12 weeks.
What are the signs and symptoms of tracheoesophageal fistula?
Symptoms of Tracheoesophageal Fistula and Esophageal Atresia
- Coughing or choking while nursing or taking a bottle.
- Frothing or drooling from the mouth.
- Vomiting.
- Difficulty breathing while feeding.
- Blue-tinged skin while feeding.
- An unusually rounded abdomen.
- Failure to gain weight.
How is esophageal fistula diagnosed?
The diagnosis of EA/TEF is confirmed by attempting to pass a nasogastric tube (a tube that runs from the nose to the stomach via the esophagus) down the throat of infants who have require excessive suction of mucus, or are born to mothers with polyhydramnios, or, if earlier signs are missed have difficulty feeding.
Are the trachea and esophagus connected?
Sometimes you may swallow and cough because something “went down the wrong pipe.” The body has two “pipes” – the trachea (windpipe), which connects the throat to the lungs; and the esophagus, which connects the throat to the stomach.
What happens after esophageal atresia surgery?
Most children need a breathing tube for several days after the operation and a drainage tube from the chest until at least a week after surgery, when doctors can be sure there are no leaks from the new connection in the esophagus. If things go well, babies may begin to feed by mouth about a week after surgery.
What is the surgical repair of esophageal fistula?
Surgical repair of a TEF is an elective procedure. It consists of division of the fistula, suture of the esophagus and trachea and protection of the suture lines with a buttressed muscle flap. TEF repair is a complex and challenging procedure, thus, high morbidity and mortality are expected.
How to prevent the re-recurrence of tracheoesophageal fistula?
The use of a sternothyroid muscle flap to prevent the re-recurrence of a recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula found 10 years after the primary repair NCBI Skip to main content Skip to navigation Resources
Can a recurrent fistula open in the trachea?
In general, almost all patients with recurrent TEF have episodes of leakage and/or tracheal injuries [4–6, 8]. The recurrent fistula usually opens in the trachea at the site of the original fistula site or tracheal injury [4–6].
Why is a sternothyroid muscle flap used for fistula repair?
In the present case, a sternothyroid muscle flap was chosen because the recurrent fistula was in the cervical area. In fact, in the present case, the muscle flap was easily and safely interposed between the divided ends of the fistula with a good blood supply.