Parents, be aware of various congenital abnormalities that can occur in newborns. One of them that can cause serious health problems and even death if not treated immediately is esophageal atresia.
Birth defects or congenital abnormalities cannot be 100% prevented, but with proper diagnosis and treatment as early as possible, it can save a child’s life and improve their quality of life.
What is esophageal atresia? Here is a necessary reviewParentsknow.
What is Esophageal Atresia?
Source: Freepik
Quoting fromCleveland Clinic, in our digestive system there is a part called the esophagus or throat.
The esophagus is a tube whose main function is to carry food and fluids from the mouth to the stomach. The esophagus is located in the middle of the chest, in an area called the mediastinum that is located behind the windpipe (trachea) and in front of the spine.
The esophagus has two ends that can open. At the upper opening of the esophagus, there is a ring-shaped muscle called the upper esophageal sphincter.
The upper esophageal sphincter can ‘sense’ when food or liquid is coming towards it. When it gets a signal, the sphincter will relax or open so that food can enter the esophagus. However, if there is no food or liquid, it will remain tightly closed.
Meanwhile, at the lower opening of the esophagus, there is another ring-shaped muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter. Like the upper esophageal sphincter, this part can also ‘feel’ the arrival of food and liquid. When food and drink arrive, this muscle relaxes and allows food to enter the stomach.
When no food or liquid enters, the lower esophageal sphincter remains closed to prevent stomach acid and digestive fluids from entering or rising into the esophagus.
Esophageal atresia can cause choking and breathing problems. It also prevents all food from reaching the stomach after swallowing.
This condition also often occurs in conjunction with another health problem called a tracheoesophageal fistula. Those with a tracheoesophageal fistula have their esophagus connected to the trachea (windpipe) instead of the stomach.
What are the Signs and Characteristics of Esophageal Atresia in Newborn Babies?
The first signs of esophageal atresia are usually apparent soon after birth. The most common symptoms are:
- There are white foamy bubbles in the baby’s mouth.
- Coughing or choking while breastfeeding
- Blue skin color, especially when breastfeeding
- Difficulty breathing
What are the Types and Characteristics of Esophageal Atresia?
Reported from the official website of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention , there are four types of esophageal atresia based on their characteristics.
1. Type A
The upper and lower parts of the esophagus are not connected and have closed ends. In this type, no part of the esophagus is attached to the trachea.
2. Type B
It is a rare type. In this type, the upper part of the esophagus is attached to the trachea, but the lower part has a closed end.
3. Type C
It 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.
4. Type D
In this type, the upper and lower esophagus are not connected to each other, but are each connected separately to the trachea. This is the rarest and most severe type.
What Causes Esophageal Atresia?
The exact cause of esophageal atresia in most babies is still unknown. This condition occurs during the development of the baby before birth in the womb. Mutations (changes) in genes can cause the esophagus to develop abnormally.
Nearly half of all babies born with this condition have one or more other congenital defects, such as problems with the digestive system (intestines and anus), heart, kidneys, or ribs and spine.
How Often Does Esophageal Atresia Occur?
Source: Freepik
Researchers estimate that about 1 in every 4,100 babies is born with esophageal atresia in the United States each year.
This condition can also occur with or without a tracheoesophageal fistula. Mert Ozan Bahtiyar, MD, medical director of the Fetal Care Center, said that tracheoesophageal fistula occurs in 1 in 2,000 to 4,000 babies, as quoted from the page Yale Medicine.
What Are the Risk Factors for Esophageal Atresia?
The CDC reports important findings about several factors that increase the risk of having a baby with esophageal atresia, including the following.
1. Father’s Age
Older paternal age is associated with an increased risk of having a baby born with this esophageal abnormality.
2. Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology
Mothers who use assisted reproductive technology such as insemination or IVF to get pregnant have an increased risk of giving birth to a baby with this disorder compared to women who conceive naturally.
How to Diagnose Esophageal Atresia in Pregnant Women?
In rare cases, esophageal atresia can be diagnosed before birth during a routine prenatal ultrasound. One of the signs that can be seen during pregnancy is a buildup of amniotic fluid called polyhydramnios.
However, esophageal atresia is usually diagnosed when a baby coughs/chokes while trying to nurse or has trouble nursing soon after birth. To check, the doctor will insert a tube into the baby’s nose or mouth to see if it can reach the stomach.
The diagnosis is usually confirmed by X-ray examination which shows abnormal development of the esophagus.
How to Handle and Care for It?
Esophageal atresia can be life-threatening, so treatment or medication must be given immediately. Once a diagnosis is made, surgery is performed to reconnect the two ends of the esophagus so the baby can breathe and swallow properly.
Healthy babies can have surgery just a few days after they are born. However, babies with other health problems or birth defects may need to wait until they are cleared to have surgery.
Some surgeries and other procedures or medications may be needed, for example if the muscles of the esophagus do not work well enough to move food into the stomach or if food digested in the stomach consistently moves back up into the esophagus.
What Are the Possible Complications of Esophageal Atresia in Babies?
Source: Freepik
Some cases of esophageal atresia or TE fistula can experience complications after surgery, namely narrowing (stricture) where the esophagus has been repaired. This can make it difficult to swallow liquids or solid foods, putting the baby at risk of choking.
If this happens, the doctor will perform a special type of X-ray called an esophagram. After that, surgery is performed to stretch the stricture.
Children with this condition may experience several other complications, including:
- Tracheomalacia
The walls of the throat become weak and droopy, causing high-pitched, noisy breathing.
- Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
Acid from the stomach can rise back into the esophagus, which can cause inflammation in the throat and a burning sensation in the chest.
- Esophageal Motility Problems
Esophageal motility disorders (EMD) are disorders of the esophagus that can cause difficulty swallowing, painful spasms or regurgitation of food.
- Scar Tissue Scar tissue
can form in the area where the esophagus was surgically repaired, causing narrowing and difficulty swallowing.
How to Prevent It?
Parentscannot prevent esophageal atresia because this condition is caused by a gene mutation that occurs at the time of conception.
However,Parentscan reduce the risk of having a baby with birth defects by maintaining pregnancy, such as consuming healthy foods, exercising regularly, getting enough rest, and visiting the doctor regularly for check-ups during pregnancy.
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Although esophageal atresia can be life-threatening in its most severe form and can cause long-term nutritional problems , most children will recover fully if the condition is detected early and treated promptly.
Hopefully this information is useful.
Republished with permission from theAsianParent Indonesia
