Question
My child is ten days old, and I just found out yesterday that they have congenital esophageal atresia. We are in Handan and don’t know what to do.
Answer
The primary principle in treating congenital esophageal atresia is to stabilize the lower esophageal sphincter function while increasing the reflux of gastric contents and reducing the irritability of the reflux material. Specific measures include:
- Increase Reflux: Since reflux often occurs at night, when the patient is in a horizontal position or head-down, foot-up position, it is recommended to raise the head of the bed to create a slope from head to foot, allowing for faster elimination of the reflux material. It is suggested not to defecate before bedtime and to extend the time between dinner and sleep to at least 3 hours. After each meal, have the patient in an inverted position or take a walk to help empty the food with gravity.
- Avoid Irritating Foods: Prohibit the consumption of foods that may cause irritation and avoid vigorous exercise. These suggestions can be used as temporary coping measures, but long-term treatment still requires guidance from a professional doctor.