Esophageal Atresia Treatment Program
Who we are
The Esophageal Atresia Treatment Program (EAT Program) at Children's Hospital Boston is the world's only center offering the most advanced and effective surgical treatment of esophageal atresia (EA) and the commonly associated condition tracheoesophageal fistula (TEF).
It may sound complicated, but our work here is simple. Using the the most effective surgical approach (called the Foker process), we help children born with an incomplete or blocked esophagus to eventually eat solid foods just like their peers.
Specialists within the EAT Program also care for children with:
- esophageal injury and trauma
- lye strictures - the chemical burn (and subsequent scarring) of the esophagus, caused by the ingestion of sodium hydroxide or potassion hydroxide
- hiatal hernias - a condition in which the upper part of the stomach bulges through an opening in the diaphragm
At Children's, we have the advantage of depth on our bench. We have a team that can say 'We will fix that child, whatever it takes.
Rusty Jennings, MD
Conditions & Treatments
Growing the esophagus: Understanding the Foker process
In the majority of cases of esophageal atresia, joining the ends of the esophagus is straightforward. In some children, however, the ends are so far apart they cannot be easily connected.
To solve the problem, John Foker, MD, PhD, developed a technique to stimulate the upper and lower ends of the esophagus to grow so they could be joined together. Using this technique, surgeons place traction sutures in the tiny esophageal ends and increase tension on these sutures daily until the ends are close enough to be sewn together. Click here or the illustration above to see an animation demonstrating this process.
Children's is the only pediatric hospital that offers the Foker process to treat EA and TEF. Foker has worked exclusively with Russell Jennings, MD to ensure that his successes are continued here in Boston. Dr. Foker is now the Scientific Director of the EAT Program and visiting professor at Harvard Medical School.
A team effort
Specialists involved in EAT include those from:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Gastroenterology and Nutrition
- General Surgery
- Intensive Care
- Neonatal Intensive Care
- Interventional Radiology
- Nephrology
- Otolaryngology
- Respiratory Diseases
- Urology
Evaluation and care at the EAT Center is also supported by teams within the
Related Services:
Meet Dr. Foker
Family education and support
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Top Ranking
US News & World Report ranks Children's Hospital Boston #1 in more specialties than any other pediatric hospital in the United States. Learn more.
