clinical features of oesophageal atresia

Last reviewed 08/2022

Clinical presentation is of a child unable to swallow saliva, bubbling fluid from the mouth, who chokes on the first feed. The bubbling occurs within 20 minutes of birth.

There is a high incidence of aspiration pneumonia, either from the oesophageal pouch into the trachea, or in the presence of a tracheoesophageal fistula via the fistula into the trachea.