Esophageal occlusion is a congenital disease in newborn children in which the esophagus does not function. Read more about the cause, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of an esophageal blockage below.

About esophageal obstruction

Esophageal occlusion is a disease that can occur in newborn children. The disease is congenital and means that the esophagus is not formed correctly in the body. In children with esophageal occlusion, the passage from the throat to the stomach is closed. This is also called atresia . Esophageal obstruction occurs in approximately 1 in 5,000 births and in the Netherlands in an average of 60 babies per year. Babies born with an esophageal abnormality must always undergo surgery quickly, because the condition severely suppresses their ability to drink and breathe.

Cause of esophageal blockage

Esophageal obstruction usually occurs as an isolated abnormality, but also often as part of a syndrome. In a healthy baby, the trachea and esophagus are formed from one tube early in the pregnancy. However, this splitting process can go wrong, causing esophageal obstruction. This split in the trachea and esophagus already takes place around week 6 of pregnancy.

Symptoms of esophageal blockage

Immediately after birth, the symptoms of esophageal obstruction are quite easy to recognize. Because the connection between the pharynx and the stomach does not function, newborn babies have difficulty swallowing things. This includes both your own saliva and drinking fluids. Drinks and saliva are simply swallowed, but then come out through the nose or mouth. It cannot go away because the esophagus is closed off. In addition, breathing problems can also occur if there is an open connection between the esophagus and the trachea.

Diagnosis of esophageal occlusion

An esophageal blockage is rarely discovered before the birth of the child. After birth, the doctor can determine whether there is an esophageal blockage by means of a test with a tube. The doctor tries to insert a tube into the esophagus. If this does not work, there is probably an esophageal blockage. This suspicion can often be confirmed by an X-ray and also by the breathing complaints and drinking complaints that a newborn baby experiences.

Treatment of esophageal occlusion

Because esophageal obstruction seriously hinders the newborn child’s breathing and drinking ability, rapid surgical intervention is required in most cases. Operation is therefore usually started immediately after delivery. However, if a large part of the esophagus is missing, the operation is performed later. The child then receives food through a so-called stoma during its first years of life.The main purpose of the operation is to restore the esophagus to its intended function. The esophagus should run from the throat to the stomach and successfully connect these two body parts. After the operation, various tests are performed and photos are taken to see whether the operation was successful. After the successful operation, the child must learn to drink on his own, which can cause problems for some time. Tube feeding may still be required during this period. After the operation, the child may still have swallowing problems and respiratory infections may also occur.