Congenital proximal tracheoesophageal fistula

Proximal pouch tracheoesophageal fistulas were discovered in 13 of 170 patients (7.7%) who had esophageal atresia and/or tracheoesophageal fistula. Approximately one-third of these were discovered preoperatively, one-third intraoperatively, and the remainder during the first 10 mo postoperatively. We feel that the incidence of this anomaly will be seen to be much higher than previously reported if surgeons specifically look for it.