Esophageal atresia is a congenital medical condition (birth defect) that affects the alimentary tract.

[2] The genetic causes of EA/TEF include chromosome anomalies or variants in genes involved in critical developmental processes which are dosage sensitive.

[6] Any attempt at feeding could cause aspiration pneumonia as the milk collects in the blind pouch and overflows into the trachea and lungs.

This is known as VACTERL association because of the involvement of Vertebral column, Anorectal, Cardiac, Tracheal, Esophageal, Renal, and Limbs.

On antenatal USG, the finding of an absent or small stomach in the setting of polyhydramnios was considered a potential symptom of esophageal atresia.

[10] On plain X-ray, a feeding tube will not be seen pass through the esophagus and remain coiled in the upper oesophageal pouch.

The most immediate and effective treatment in the majority of cases is a surgical repair to close the fistula/s and reconnect the two ends of the esophagus to each other.

[16] Gastric pull-up has been the preferred approach at many specialized centers, including Great Ormond Street (London) and Mott Children's Hospital (Ann Arbor).

[18] In some of these so-called long gap cases, though, an advanced surgical treatment developed by John Foker, MD,[19] may be utilized to elongate and then join the short esophageal segments.

Unfortunately, the results have been somewhat difficult to replicate by other surgeons and the need for multiple operations has tempered enthusiasm for this approach.

In April 2015 Annalise Dapo became the first patient in the United States to have their esophageal atresia corrected using magnets.

However, epithelial cell proliferation and potential incorporation of the stent into the trachea can make subsequent removal dangerous.

[citation needed] The incidence of asthma, bronchitis, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and recurrent infections in adolescent and adult esophageal atresia survivors far exceeds that of their healthy peers.

[27][28] The risk factors of pneumonia within the first five years of life include other acute respiratory infections and high number of esophageal dilatations.

[1] Congenital esophageal atresia (EA) represents a failure of the esophagus to develop as a continuous passage.

The infant may become cyanotic (turn bluish due to lack of oxygen) and may stop breathing as the overflow of fluid from the blind pouch is aspirated (sucked into) the trachea.

A catheter can be inserted and will show up as white on a regular x-ray film to demonstrate the blind pouch ending.