Your baby will remain in the Intensive Care Nursery until he/ she is taking full feedings by mouth, or gastrostomy tube, and is gaining weight. This usually takes several weeks. Once discharged, babies may have problems with acid reflux for the first year. If your baby has a gastrostomy tube, the nurses will show you how to care for it and use it to administer feeding or decompress air from the stomach.
- Acid Reflux Treatment
- Care for a Gastrostomy Tube
- Do I see the surgeon again after the operation?
- When do I call the surgeon's office?
- Parent support organizations
Acid Reflux Treatment
Babies with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula also have gastroesphageal reflux, a back flow of contents from the stomach into the esophagus. To prevent this irritation, your baby will be started on an antacid medication and a medication to enhance stomach emptying. These medications are continued after hospital discharge for as long as needed, with dosages adjusted by your peditrician as your child gains weight. Please do not stop these medications without consulting your child's surgeon.
Care for a Gastrostomy Tube
Your nurses will instruct you how to care for the gastrostomy tube. At discharge, a replacement gastrostomy tube of the same size will be sent home with you. Feeding supplies will be ordered for you by the Discharge Coordinator in the Intensive Care Nursery. These supplies will be delivered to your home by a homecare company. Nurses will be requested to visit you and your child after discharge to help ease the transition from the hospital to home.
For more info read Homecare Guidelines for Gastrostomy Tubes
Do I see the surgeon again after the hospital discharge?
If all is going well, a visit to our office at a specific time is not required. A visit to your child's Primary Provider, at one to two weeks after the discharge, is recommended. Children with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula may develop esophageal narrowing (stricture) at the site of repair. If this occurs, your child will have trouble swallowing liquids or solids. If the problem is severe you may notice your child coughing or choking on food, vomiting, or refusing to take food or liquids. If you suspect there is a stricture call our office as soon as possible. We will arrange for a special x-ray called an esophagram, which will help identify any narrowing or stricture of the esophagus. Surgical dilation (stretching) of the esophageal stricture may be required and will be performed under anesthesia.
When do I call the surgeon's office?
Call our office at 415-476-2538 for the following:
- Any concerns you have about your child's recovery
- A temperature of 101°F or higher
- A red incision
- Increasing pain and tenderness at the incision
- Any liquid coming out of the incision
- Difficulty swallowing liquids or solids
- Questions regarding the gastrostomy tube
- Chronic lung problems should be addressed with a pulmenologist
Parent support organizations
EA/TEF Child and Family Support Connection, Inc.
111 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 1145
Chicago, Ill. 60604-3502
Phone: 312-987-9085
Email: info@eatef.org
Web: www.eatef.org
TEF/Vater International Support Network
15301 Grey Fox Road
Upper Marlboro, Md. 20772
Phone: 301-952-6837
Email: info@tefvater.org
Web: www.tefvater.org