Chennai doctors repair rare airway-food pipe defect in one-year-old

A one-year-old child has recovered after undergoing a complex reconstructive surgery at Dr. Mehta’s Hospitals in Chennai for a recurrent tracheoesophageal fistula, a rare congenital condition. The child had previously undergone corrective surgery abroad, but the abnormal connection between the oesophagus and trachea had reappeared, and multiple attempts to close the defect had failed, the hospital said in a statement.

Tracheoesophageal fistula is a condition present at birth in which an abnormal passage forms between the oesophagus, the tube carrying food to the stomach, and the trachea, the airway leading to the lungs. This can cause breathing difficulties, coughing, and feeding problems. In this case, the fistula had recurred after the initial surgery, necessitating another procedure.

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

The two-and-a-half-hour procedure was led by Raghul M., a paediatric surgeon, and assisted by Saravana Bharathy S.P., an internal medicine specialist. The multidisciplinary team also included Kartigeyan, consultant in anaesthesiology, and Sasidaran K., consultant in paediatric intensive care.

Following the surgery, the child was gradually weaned off mechanical ventilation and resumed oral feeding. The child was discharged on the seventh post-operative day, the hospital said.

Recurrent tracheoesophageal fistulas are uncommon but challenging to manage. The presence of scar tissue from earlier procedures makes surgery technically demanding. The use of pericardial tissue to reinforce the repair is a recognised technique that helps reduce the risk of recurrence.

The successful outcome highlights the availability of advanced paediatric surgical care in Chennai. The child’s recovery marks the end of a difficult period for the family, who had sought treatment at multiple centres before coming to this hospital.

The hospital did not disclose the child’s gender or place of residence, respecting patient privacy. The medical team emphasised that early diagnosis and timely intervention remain critical in managing congenital anomalies of this nature.