Q39: Congenital malformations of oesophagus
Q39.2: Congenital tracheo-oesophageal fistula without atresia
The oesophagus or gullet connects the mouth with the stomach. It is a muscular tube. The muscles in the oesophagus move food into the stomach. The trachea or windpipe begins below the larynx. It consists of many cartilage rings that strengthen the trachea. The trachea splits into 2 large airways in the middle of the chest. The airways then go into the lungs and branch out further. The esophagus and trachea both develop from tissue that was originally shared. If the tissue does not separate correctly during development, a connecting passage can result.
A connecting passage between the esophagus and the trachea can cause a variety of problems. Fluid can get from the esophagus into the trachea via the passage. From the trachea, the fluid flows on into the lungs. This can impair breathing. The lungs can also become inflamed.
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