Esophageal atresia with distal tracheoesophageal fistula with gasless abdomen: a diagnostic dilemma

Abstract

A “gasless abdomen” in babies with esophageal atresia (EA) has traditionally been thought to imply absence of a distal tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF). We present 2 cases with gasless abdomen and later turned out to be cases of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula. These cases are presented because of its extreme rarity and because of ease in management if the condition is diagnosed preoperatively.