Esophageal Atresia Without Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula

  • Etiology: congenital
  • CXR: dilated proximal pouch with coiled nasogastric tube within it, no distal intestinal gas
  • Complications: often have a long gap between esophageal segments
  • Clinical: second most common (10%) esophageal atresia

Cases of Esophageal Atresia Without Tracheo-Esophageal Fistula

AP image from a vintage upper GI shows contrast that had been injected into a dilated proximal esophageal pouch (left) that was subsequently aspirated into the trachea (right).
AXR shows a gasless abdomen. Segmentation anomalies are noted in the sacrum suggesting the presence of VATER syndrome.
CXR | AXR shows a nasogastric tube in the proximal esophagus and a massively distended abdomen. Transverse US image of the upper abdomen (below) shows a dilated duodenal bulb (left) and a dilated stomach (right), a double-bubble sign.
CXR AP and Lateral shows a nasogastric tube that cannot be further advanced into the distal esophagus.