The majority of babies (86%) with esophageal atresia (OA) have a distal tracheo-esophageal fistula. Pure OA (without fistula) is much less common occurring in approximately (6%) of total cases. 

Clinical findings

• Respiratory distress
• Aspiration
• Choking
• Drooling
• Difficulty handling secretions​

Imaging findings

Prenatal ultrasound - polyhydramnios may be detected.

Chest x-ray - radiolucent, blind-end dilated pouch of the upper esophagus may be seen with failure to pass NG tube into the stomach. The characteristic feature of pure congenital esophageal atresia and no fistula is a gasless abdomen in the presence of esophageal atresia.

Types

The five subtypes of esophageal atresia (Gross and Vogt Classification) are as follows:

• type A: isolated esophageal atresia (8%)
• type B: proximal fistula with distal atresia (1%)
• type C: proximal atresia with distal fistula (85%)
• type D: double fistula with intervening atresia (1%)
• type E: isolated fistula (H-type) (4%)