Simple strategy of anesthesia for the neonate with tracheoesophageal fistula: a case report.

A 3-day-old neonate, given a diagnosis of esophageal atresia (EA) with tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF), which is large and just above the carina, was scheduled for TEF repair. Routine anesthetic management focuses on adequate ventilation and avoidance of gastric distension during positive pressure ventilation. Using a balloon-tipped embolectomy catheter or a Fogarty catheter to block the fistula under the guidance of fiberoptic scope has been described. In most of the medical centers, however, the pediatric fiberoptic scope may not be available. We present a case of a newborn undergoing type C EA/TEF repair and describe a simple intra-operative technique that could temporarily occlude the gastroesophageal junction, allowing stable vital signs of patient and definitive repair of the tracheoesophageal fistula.