An infant has been born with an esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula

1 With the most common type of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula, the upper segment of the esophagus ends in a blind pouch and a fistula connects the lower segment to the trachea. Preoperatively, there is a risk of aspiration of gastric secretions from the stomach into the trachea because of the fistula that connects the lower segment of the esophagus to the trachea. Pain is not usually experienced preoperatively with this condition. The infant is always kept NPO (nothing by mouth) preoperatively, so ineffective feeding pattern would not apply. Tissue perfusion is not a problem with this condition.