Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Case Report
Abstract: Esophageal atresia (EA) with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) is an uncommon congenital abnormality, and double TEF is observed in less than 1% of all EA/TEF cases. Additionally, recurrence of EA with TEF in the offspring of affected individuals is also considered a rare condition. We present the case of an early-term infant with a paternal family history of EA/TEF who was diagnosed with EA and a distal TEF (type C EA/TEF), underwent primary repair and ligation, and was subsequently found to have a second proximal fistula (type D TEF). This case highlights the diagnostic challenges associated with double TEF and emphasizes the importance of thorough evaluation in all EA/TEF presentations. Maintaining a high index of suspicion is essential to ensure all anatomical variants are identified and appropriately managed. Familial recurrence of isolated EA/TEF, while infrequent, should also be considered in clinical assessment and counseling.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.93288
Authors: Victoria Maldonado, Gabriela Guadalupe Rios, Robert Dorman, Sreekanth K Viswanathan, Caroline Chua
Institution: Nemours Children's Clinic
Language: English
Topic: Esophageal and GI Pathology
Subfield: Surgery
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414540894