Esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula consist of abnormal communication between the trachea and the esophagus. Patients with this type of condition may have a suspected diagnosis during the prenatal period, however, the certainty of the presence of this malformation is established after birth. The baby at birth may have excessive salivation, shortness of breath and vomiting when fed. The presence of abnormal communication of the esophagus with the trachea (present in most cases), called a tracheoesophageal fistula, can lead to cyanosis and respiratory failure.
The nursing diagnosis that has the highest priority during the first 24 postoperative hours in relation to this type of malformation is "ineffective airway clearance".
