What are the 5 types of tracheoesophageal fistula?

Type A = pure esophageal atresia; type B = esophageal atresia with proximal tracheoesophageal fistula; type C = esophageal atresia with distal tracheoesophageal fistula; type D = esophageal atresia with proximal and distal tracheoesophageal fistula; type E = H-type tracheoesophageal fistula without esophageal atresia.

What are the types of TEF?

Esophageal atresia is closely related to tracheo-esophageal fistula and can be divided into1:
  • type A: isolated esophageal atresia (8%)
  • type B: proximal fistula with distal atresia (1%)
  • type C: proximal atresia with distal fistula (85%)
  • type D: …
  • type E: isolated fistula (H-type) (4%)

What are the 3 C’s of esophageal atresia?

What is the most common type of TEF?

Type C: The most common form of TEF, type C is when the upper portion of your esophagus ends in a blind pouch, and the lower portion is connected to your trachea by a tracheoesophageal fistula. About 85% of babies born with TEF have this type.

What is the most common complication of tracheoesophageal fistula?

The most commonly occurring complications are anastomosis leakage, tension pneumothorax, and sepsis [7,8]. Moreover, the long term complications of the surgery include esophageal strictures, reoccurrence of TEF, tracheomalacia, gastroesophageal reflux, dysphagia, recurrent pneumonia, and cough.

What is malignant TEF?

Malignant tracheo-esophageal fistula (TEF) is a serious complication of cancer arising usually in the esophagus, lung, or tracheobronchial tree. Repeated aspiration and pneumonia lead to rapid deterioration and death. The prognosis is dismal and curative resections are curiosities.

What is Type C TEF?

TYPE C. The upper segment of the esophagus ends in a blind pouch and the lower segment is connected to the trachea via a TEF. This is the most common type of EA/TEF occurring in approximately 85 percent of individuals.

What causes TEF?

Causes of acquired TEFs include iatrogenic injury, blunt chest or neck trauma, prolonged mechanical ventilation via endotracheal or tracheostomy tube, and excessive tube cuff pressure in patients ventilated for lung disease. There has even been a case report of an impacted denture causing TEF.

What causes TEF in babies?

The direct cause of EA/TEF is not known. Research suggests a genetic component because around half of the babies born with EA or TEF also have other birth defects.

How do you treat TEF?

Currently, the treatment of TEF is predominantly interventional and not surgical. The main techniques are: (I) esophageal and/or airway stenting, which is effective to seal the fistula and prevent the leakage of liquid or gas.

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.

Is TEF an emergency?

Tracheoesophageal fistula and esophageal atresia repair requires an operation to close the fistula and repair the esophagus and trachea. Surgery for esophageal atresia is not considered an emergency, and is typically done when the baby is two or three days old.

Why cyanosis occurs in TEF?

The cyanosis is a result of laryngospasm (a protective mechanism that the body has to prevent aspiration into the trachea). Over time respiratory distress will develop. If any of the above signs/symptoms are noticed, a catheter is gently passed into the esophagus to check for resistance.

How long does it take for an esophageal fistula to heal?

It is reported that the healing time is 3–12 weeks.

What causes EA?

The exact cause of EA is still unknown, but it appears to have some genetic components. Up to half of all babies born with EA have one or more other birth defects, such as: trisomy 13, 18 or 21. other digestive tract problems, such intestinal atresia or imperforate anus.

What is the difference between esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula?

Esophageal atresia (EA) occurs when the upper part of the esophagus does not connect with the lower esophagus and stomach. Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is an abnormal connection between the upper part of the esophagus and the trachea or windpipe.

What is the most common type of esophageal atresia?

Type C is the most common type. In this type the upper part of the esophagus has a closed end and the lower part of the esophagus is attached to the trachea, as is shown in the drawing. Type D is the rarest and most severe.

How common is TEF?

EA/TEF stands for esophageal atresia (EA) with or without tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). While EA/TEF is rare, occurring in 1 in 2,500 births, the two conditions are often present together and develop before birth.

Is TE fistula genetic?

Mode of Inheritance

Esophageal atresia / tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) can occur as an isolated finding, as part of a genetic syndrome, or as part of a non-isolated (but not syndromic) set of findings. Most individuals with EA/TEF represent simplex cases (i.e., the only affected member of the family).

How is TE fistula diagnosed?

How is tracheoesophageal fistula diagnosed?
  1. imaging studies, such as x-rays.
  2. endoscopy or bronchoscopy, which are techniques for looking at the inside of your child’s airways using a thin tube fitted with a small light and camera.

How common is a TE fistula?

Normally, the esophagus and the trachea are two separate tubes that are not connected. 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.