Esophageal Atresia Repair, Care After

This sheet gives you information about how to care for your baby after his or her procedure. Your baby's health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your baby's health care provider.

What can I expect after the procedure?

• Frequent spitting up.
• Coughing.
• Trouble swallowing while feeding.

Follow these instructions at home:

• Bathe and feed your baby as told by your baby's health care provider. If your baby has trouble feeding or swallowing, you may need to work with a nutrition and feeding therapist.
• Give your baby over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by his or her health care provider. Your baby will need to be given an antacid medicine for about 6 months after surgery.
• Follow instructions from your baby's health care provider about how to take care of your baby's incision. Make sure you:
  • Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before and after you change your baby's bandage (dressing). If soap and water are not available, use hand sanitizer.
  • Change your baby's dressing as told by the health care provider.
  • Leave stitches (sutures), skin glue, or adhesive strips in place. These skin closures may need to stay in place for 2 weeks or longer. If adhesive strip edges start to loosen and curl up, you may trim the loose edges. Do not remove adhesive strips completely unless your baby's health care provider tells you to do that.
• Check your baby's incision area every day for signs of infection. Check for:
  • Redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid or blood.
  • Warmth.
  • Pus or a bad smell.
• Keep all follow-up visits. This is important. Your baby will need to have checkups on a regular basis. If your baby continues to have trouble eating, you may be referred to a support group or feeding program for help.

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your baby has any of these:
  • A fever.
  • Trouble feeding.
  • An ongoing cough.
  • Redness, swelling, or pain around the incision area.
  • Fluid or blood coming from the incision area.
  • Pus or a bad smell coming from the incision area.
• Your baby's incision area feels warm to the touch.
• Your baby spits up after every feeding.
• Your baby is not gaining weight.

Get help right away if:

• Your baby has a fever, has a cough, and is struggling to breathe.
• Your baby's lips, fingers, or skin turn blue.
• Your baby vomits for more than 24 hours.
• Your baby seems to be choking.
• Your baby stops breathing for short amounts of time.
• Your baby who is younger than 3 months has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.

Summary

• It is common for babies to have some trouble swallowing after esophageal atresia repair.
• Give your baby over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by his or her health care provider. Your baby will need to be given an antacid medicine for about 6 months after surgery.
• Get help right away if your baby seems to be choking. Also get help right away if your baby who is younger than 3 months has a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.