Clinical features of tracheoesophageal fistula
The baby is often described as frothy - secondary to air flowing into the oesophagus.
There is a high incidence of aspiration pneumonia, caused by spill over of milk via the fistula.
Abdominal distension may be present if there is a connection between the oesophagus, trachea and stomach.
The most insidious type is the H-type, which can be very difficult to diagnose and may be missed on repeated examinations. Babies with this rarer form of H-type fistula may go undetected until later in life when they present with recurrent episodes of aspiration pneumonia, feeding difficulties or chronic cough.
Reference
- Slater BJ, Rothenberg SS. Tracheoesophageal fistula. Semin Pediatr Surg. 2016 Jun;25(3):176-8.
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