What causes Oesophageal Atresia?
Oesophageal Atresia (OA) is a congenital anomaly occurring in approximately 1 in every 3,500 births, usually in association with Tracheo-Oesophageal Fistula (TOF). Babies born with OA/TOF require corrective surgery and follow-up at a specialist paediatric surgical centre. It is not known what causes isolated Oesophageal Atresia (where OA/TOF is a child’s only birth defect). Data from family studies suggests that genetic factors do NOT play a major role. This is supported by the observation that where Oesophageal Atresia occurs in twins, most frequently only one of the pair is affected. Around half of all the children born with Oesophageal Atresia also have other anomalies however; this is termed ‘Syndromic Oesophageal Atresia’. Most commonly the other problems are those described within VACTERL association, in which the child has three or more of the following anomaly groups: • Vertebral (spine) problems • Anal (back passage) problems • Cardiac (heart) problems • Tracheal (airway) prob
