Tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF) repair

This fistula is considered primarily a birth abnormality. It could also appear late during adulthool due to a cancerous tumor, an infection or trauma. And it is treated through an operation in which the surgeon tries to fix the fistula between the trachea and the esophagus while maintaining each organs’ function. How then is the operation carried out? And how long does it take the infant to recover from it?

The symptoms of Tracheoesophageal Fistula (TEF) in an infant

The Tracheoesophageal Fistula could be diagnosed after birth through some medical inspections -which I will be mentioning later- and finding the following symtoms:

• Coughing during breast-feeding
• Difficulty in breathing

When does the TEF operation become required for an infant?

The Fitsula has some negative impacts on breathing and feeding for the infant. Therefore it is advised to have the operation within hours after birth to accelerate recovery.

Pre-operation checklist before TEF repair surgery

Dr. Mohamed Elbarbary requests that the infant undergoes some medical examinations ro prepare for the surgery, the most important of which are:

• X-Ray imaging
• Upper endoscopy, which is a thin tube equipped with a camera at its tip and connected to a monitor in the operating room, allowing for the detailed visualization of internal tissues.

After these examinations are done and the diagnoses is conclusive, the parents are advised with the following:

• Declaring any health issues affecting the infant
• Refraining from breast-feeding ahead of the operation

This way, the infant becomes ready to undergo the surgery.

Learn more about: Esophegeal Atresia in Newborns

How is the TEF repair surgery done?

Dr. Mohamed Elbarbary relies on surgical repair to fix the Tracheopsophageal Fitsula, during which the following takes place:

• The infant is operated on under full anesthesia to avoid feeling any pain during the surgery.
• Liquids in the trachea and oesophagus are emptied or dried
• The fistula is patched to help both organs (trachea and oesophageas) to function as intended.

How long does the TEF repair operation take?

The TEF repair operation could last up to 4 hours until the surgeon patches the fistula

Does the infant have to stay in the hospital after the TEF repair surgery?

This depends on the surgeons judgment. The surgeon could advice to keep the infant under medical supervision especially if some complications occur and the infant requires close supervision.

Complications of the Tracheosophageal Fistula repair surgery

While the TEF repair procedure/operation is considered a proven practice, some unwanted complications may appear in certain cases. Which may require further surgical intervention. Some of these complications are:

• Leaking of some fluids from the Trachea to the esophagus due to some mispatching between them.
• Tightening of the esophagus due to a medical error.
• Infection

To avoid these complication, parents are advised to rely on experienced surgeons to perform the operation, and to get in touch with the surgeon to validate their success history in other similar cases.

Healing duration after the TEF repair surgery operation for infants

The healing duration could differ from one infant to another, due to several factor including:

• The severity of the case, some cases exhibit bigger Fistula lengths compared to other, which consequently requires longer healing period.
• The nature of symptoms the infant exhibits after the operation, are they side effects, or complications that require medical intervention that could extend the healing period.
• The infants’ receptiveness to the treatment
• How closely the parents follow the post surgery instructions recommended by the doctor.

Generally, complete recovery from the TEF repair procedure/surgery is expected at the latest by the 12th week post operation.

Post Tracheoesophageal Fistula repair surgery advice

After the operation is concluded, parents are advised to care closely for their infant until full recovery is achieved. If any of the following recommendations are overlooked or ignored, recovery period could extend:

• Keep the wound clean and dry to avoid any infection.
• Ensure the adviced medication is consumed timely in the recommended doses as it plays an important role in the ability to recover.
• Reporting to the doctor in case any abnormal or unusual changes appear on the wound or the infant’s overall health

Learn more about: Common symptoms of Tracheosophageal Fistula in newborn infants:

Could the Fistula reappear in an infant who had been operated on, after repair?

The probability of TEF appearing again in an infant who has been operated on successfully range between 3% to 14% -approximately- according to historical data.

Could the TEF repair surgery be postponed after birth?

Dr. Mohamed Elbarbary advises against postponing the operation after birth, as the tracheosophageal fistula could pose a threat to the infant’s life. And he advises that it gets treated as soon as possible.

This concludes the most important information about the Tracheosophageal Fistula Repair Surgery, for more information about Dr. Mohamed Elbarbary, you can visit this page.

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Elbarbary is recognized as one of the most prominent names in the field of paediatric surgery. He graduated from Medical School with a Degree of Excellence and Honors. He also did his Masters and PhD while operating in several well-known hospitals in Egypt.

Thanks to his skills and keenness on publishing multiple scientific papers, he was consistently promoted until he became the assistant professor of paediatric surgery in Cairo University’s hospital.

Prof. Dr. Mohamed Elbarbary also contributed in treating many infants from Tracheosophageal Fistula among other cases. Such credentials are reassuring and comforting for parents admitting their infants to Dr. Mohamed for treatment. Book an appointment with Prof. Dr. Mohamed Elbarbary at your earliest convienience through one of the numbers below or through the website.