By Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Bolgatanga, Sept. 18, GNA – The Upper East Regional Hospital in Bolgatanga has successfully completed a major five-hour surgical procedure on a two-year-old boy diagnosed with oesophageal atresia with distal tracheo-oesophageal fistula.
The disease is a rare congenital condition affecting the connection between the mouth, oesophagus, stomach and airway.
The surgery was performed by a team of specialist doctors led by Dr Lawrence Kankpeyeng, Paediatric Surgeon, with support from Dr Hope Glover-Addy, Consultant Paediatric Surgeon at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, and Dr Ernest Kunfaa, Paediatric Surgeon at the University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS).
Operating room nurses and anaesthetists also assisted the team during the procedure.
The Management of the Upper East Regional Hospital, in a press statement signed by Mr Godfred Polkuu, its Public Relations Officer, said the child was stable and under close monitoring by the surgical team.
The statement said the immediate post-operative period was critical, and the team would continue to monitor the child’s recovery and provide the necessary support.
Oesophageal atresia is a congenital condition in which the oesophagus, the tube that carries food and saliva from the mouth to the stomach, does not develop as a continuous passage.
In the child’s case, there was a blockage in the oesophagus while the lower portion was abnormally connected to the trachea, or windpipe, a condition known as tracheo-oesophageal fistula.
The condition prevented the child from safely swallowing saliva or taking food normally, with saliva accumulating in the upper portion of the oesophagus and overflowing into the airway and lungs, resulting in breathing difficulties and respiratory complications.
There was also a risk that stomach contents could travel backwards through the lower oesophagus and enter the trachea through the abnormal connection, potentially contaminating the lungs.
The statement said the child was first seen by its medical team at about three days old during the neonatal period, when he presented with excessive saliva from the mouth and difficulties with feeding and breathing.
The statement said the medical team first addressed his respiratory condition and treated the associated chest infection.
The statement said during the initial procedure, the upper portion of the oesophagus was brought out through the neck, a procedure known as oesophagostomy, to allow saliva to drain safely rather than accumulate and enter the airway.
It said a feeding tube was also inserted directly into the stomach through the abdominal wall, known as gastrostomy, to provide nutrition without the child swallowing through the mouth.
The abnormal fistula was also closed during the initial procedure to prevent stomach contents from travelling backwards through the lower oesophagus into the airway.
The child subsequently became stable and was discharged with regular follow-up.
After several months of growth and medical follow-up, the child reached the appropriate stage for the next phase of treatment, leading to the latest operation to establish a new pathway for food from the mouth to the stomach.
The statement indicated that since the original lower oesophagus was not available for reconstruction, the surgical team used a segment of intestine to create a new food passage.
The procedure, known as intestinal interposition, involves harvesting an appropriate segment of intestine and using it to connect the stomach to the upper oesophagus.
It said th reconstructed passage is brought through the chest and connected to the oesophagus in the neck, with the objective of establishing a continuous pathway from the mouth to the stomach to enable the child eventually to take food normally through the mouth.
The statement said once the surgical team was satisfied that the reconstructed passage was functioning appropriately and the child had recovered sufficiently, steps would be taken towards transitioning him from tube feeding to normal oral feeding.
The statement said the successful surgery reflected the commitment of the hospital’s medical and surgical teams to providing specialised care for children with complex congenital conditions.
It said the collaboration among the specialists demonstrated the importance of teamwork and professional cooperation in managing complex paediatric surgical conditions.
It said treatment had been undertaken in stages because of the complexity of the condition, with the initial operation shortly after birth aimed at stabilising the child, protecting the lungs and providing safe feeding while allowing him to grow.
The statement said the latest operation, the hospital said, represented the next major stage of reconstructing the food passage, while the surgical team would continue to monitor his recovery and assess his progress towards normal feeding and rehabilitation.
The statement commended the surgical, paediatric, anaesthetic, nursing and other supporting teams involved from the neonatal period through to the latest procedure.
It also acknowledged the contributions of the supporting Consultant Surgeon from the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, the Paediatric Surgeon from UTAS, and the cooperation of the child’s family.
“The hospital remains committed to providing quality, specialized and compassionate care, particularly for children requiring complex surgical interventions.
“Further updates will be provided as appropriate, while respecting the privacy and confidentiality of the child and family,” the statement added.
GNA
Edited by Caesar Abagali/Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Anthony Adongo Apubeo
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]