An interesting case of ‘strange lines’ a neonate with oesophageal atresia, tracheo-oesophageal fistula, situs inversus abdominalis and azygos continuation

Abstract

We describe the case of a term baby boy born via vaginal delivery at 39 weeks gestation with oesophageal atresia, tracheaoesophageal fistula, situs inversus abdominalis and azygos continuation. The azygos continuation was diagnosed after cardiac echo and confirmed on cardiac catherisation after an unexpected umbilical line position on thoracoabdominal X-ray. The baby underwent a right-sided thoracotomy on day 1 of life for repair of the oesophageal atresia. A double fistula, of both the proximal and distal segments, of the oesophagus with short segment stenosis was confirmed. The tracheo-oesophageal fistulae were ligated and divided and the oesophageal atresia repaired by primary anastomosis without complications. The azygos vein was not ligated.