A surviving child with complete proximal tracheal atresia.

An infant was born with an unusual combination of primitive foregut anomalies consisting of complete proximal tracheal atresia, proximal esophageal atresia and distal tracheoesophageal fistula. Before the birth, the family physician suspected an anomaly of the upper airway or esophageal occlusion on the basis of hydramnios evident at the thirty-third to thirty-fourth week of gestation, and earlier amniocentesis which indicated a normal level of α-fetoprotein. He consulted the hospital obstetrics and neonatology departments, which were thus prepared to deal with a potential airway problem at the birth. At birth, prompt airway management, including tracheostomy, prevented anoxic damage to the child. Features which should alert the physician to tracheal obstruction include antenatal polyhydramnios; severe respiratory distress without an audible cry and palpable distal trachea in the newborn; and failure to advance the endotracheal tube beyond the infant's vocal cords.