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Nutritional manifestations in OA (oesophageal atresia) / TOF (tracheo -oesophageal fistula)

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

Nutritional manifestations in OA (oesophageal atresia) /TOF (tracheo -oesophageal fistula)

  • infants and children may fail to thrive due to eating and absorption difficulties

  • growth and puberty may be delayed, especially in those born with long gap OA

  • calorie intake may be less than needed even in adulthood

  • vitamin D, iron and micronutrients may be deficient

  • malnutrition can occur, especially in long-gap OA (1,2)

Weaning and feeding in infants and children


Many feeding difficulties can occur in infants born with OA/TOF due to a combination of dysphagia, GORD and sometimes oral aversion.

  • weaning may be later

  • certain foods- meat, apples, bread, raw vegetables- may not be managed, causing bolus obstruction and choking

  • a small minority may need intensive treatment for oral aversion (refusal to eat any solid food) (3)

Contributor:

  • Dr Caroline Love (August 2022)
  • Associate Specialist in Dermatology at York Hospitals Trust; Adult born with OA/TOF and representative of TOFS charity

Reference:

  • Presse N, Taillefer J, Maynard S, Bouin M. Insufficient Body Weight of Adults Born With Esophageal Atresia. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2016 Mar;62(3):469-73.
  • Pelizzo G, Destro F, Selvaggio GGO, Maestri L, Roveri M, Bosetti A, et al. Esophageal Atresia: Nutritional Status and Energy Metabolism to Maximize Growth Outcome. Children (Basel). 2020 Nov 14;7(11):E228
  • Puntis, John. Feeding difficulties. In The TOF Book by David Crabbe and Vicki Martin

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