Esophageal atresia and tracheo-esophageal fistula. 25 years' experience and current management.

A review of the experience with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula over a 25-year period appears to lead to the advisability of the following procedures in surgical management:* Emergency gastrostomy under local anesthesia in all patients.* Extrapleural interruption of tracheo-esophageal fistula and end-to-end esophago-esophagostomy in patients who have the common type of upper esophageal atresia with distal tracheo-esophageal fistula.* Upper esophageal stretching and eventual esophago-esophagostomy in patients with proximal and distal esophageal atresia with or without proximal tracheo-esophageal fistula.