Toddler recovers after complex surgery for rare food pipe complication

A one-year-old has recovered after undergoing a complex reconstructive surgery at Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals in Chennai, for a recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula following an earlier corrective surgery abroad, according to a press release.

Tracheoesophageal fistula is a congenital condition in which an abnormal connection develops between the oesophagus and trachea. The child had undergone surgery for the condition earlier, but the fistula recurred. Multiple attempts to close the defect elsewhere were unsuccessful, the hospital said.

During surgery in June, doctors found a 2.5-cm opening between the trachea and oesophagus, along with extensive scar tissue from previous procedures. The surgical team separated the two structures, repaired the airway and reinforced the closure using pericardial tissue. The child’s native oesophagus was also reconstructed, avoiding the need for oesophageal replacement using the stomach or intestine.