Current status of prenatal diagnosis, operative management and outcome of esophageal atresia/tracheo-esophageal fistula

Prenat Diagn. 2008 Jul;28(7):667-75. doi: 10.1002/pd.1938.

Abstract

Ultrasonographic features suggestive of esophageal atresia with or without tracheo-esophageal fistula (EA/TEF) are only in a small minority of fetuses with EA/TEF (<10%) identifiable on prenatal scans.The prenatal diagnosis of EA/TEF relies in principle, on two nonspecific signs: polyhydramnios and absent or small stomach bubble. Polyhydramnios is associated with a wide range of fetal abnormalities, but most commonly it pursues a benign course. Similarly the sonographic absence of a stomach bubble may point to a variety of fetal anomalies.The combination of polyhydramnios and absent stomach bubble in two small series offers a modest positive predictive value of 44 and 56% respectively. Prenatal scanning for EA/TEF identifies a larger proportion of fetuses with Edwards syndrome; there is also a higher proportion of isolated EA in comparison to postnatal studies.Current ultrasound technology does not allow for a definite diagnosis of EA/TEF and therefore, counseling of parents should be guarded.Postnatal diagnosis of EA is confirmed by the failure to pass a firm nasogastric tube into the stomach; on chest X-ray, the tube is seen curling in the upper esophageal pouch. Corrective surgery for EA/TEF is well established and survival rates of over 90% can be expected.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Digestive System Surgical Procedures
  • Esophageal Atresia / complications
  • Esophageal Atresia / diagnostic imaging*
  • Esophageal Atresia / surgery*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Polyhydramnios / diagnostic imaging
  • Polyhydramnios / etiology
  • Pregnancy
  • Tracheoesophageal Fistula / complications
  • Tracheoesophageal Fistula / diagnostic imaging*
  • Tracheoesophageal Fistula / surgery*
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal*