The History behind the big word Esopahgeal Atresia

You would never think something like this would go back as far as it does. When I read up o it it just really supprised me that it goes backa s far as it does and just think we were now here near as medically advanced then as we are now. Pretty scary if you ask me.Esophageal Atresia is documented as far back as the seventeenth century (1600’s). Not much is known before then due to lack of documentation. Here is a guide to the history and documents on Esophageal Atresia. 1821 Dr. Martin reports the second case of esophageal atresia and distal fistula 124 years after first description by Gibson. 1840 Dr. Thomas Hill reports on the first know case of esophageal atresia and rectal agenesis. His description of the birth defects of the trachea, esophagus and fistula (TEF) including the anal defect could be considered for first describing the multiple birth defects we see today coined VATER Association.
1841 Dr. Hirschprung had seen four cases of esophageal atresia with fistula adding to the 10 already in literature. 1869 The first suggestion of surgical treatment by Dr. Timothy Holmes on babies born with esophageal atresia and fistula. 1873 A different type of fistula is described in literature with Lambs description of the ‘H’ fistula in 1873. Usually there is no missing part of the esophagus but there is a small connection between the esophagus and trachea in the shape of the letter H. An example would be when you write the capital letter H you make two vertical lines and connect the lines with a horizontal line. The two horizontal lines are the esophagus and trachea connected by horizontal line the piece of tissue called a fistula. Today also described as both an ‘H’ fistula and ‘N’ fistula. 1880 Morell Mackenzie in 1880 writes an article on ‘Malformations of the esophagus’ adding the one he has now seen to the 56 others already written in literature.October 20, 1888 Dr. Charles Steele of London performed the first operation on a baby with esophageal atresia. In 1898 Hoffman operated on a baby with esophageal atresia and is believed to be the first to do a gastrostomy on a baby with esophageal atresia. October 22, 1670 The first recorded case of esophageal atresia was in 1670, by Dr. William Durston of England, who found a blind-ending upper esophagus in one of a pair of female thoracopagus conjoined twins. Of it he wrote a paper, “Description of a Monstrous Birth in Plymouth”.1697The first report of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula was done by Thomas Gibson in 1697, titled: “An Anatomy of Humane Bodies Epitomized, a Clinical Account of Esophageal Atresia with Distal Tracheo-esophageal Fistula.” October 22, 1670
The first recorded case of esophageal atresia was in 1670, by Dr. William Durston of England, who found a blind-ending upper esophagus in one of a pair of female thoracopagus conjoined twins. Of it he wrote a paper, “Description of a Monstrous Birth in Plymouth”. 1697
The first report of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula was done by Thomas Gibson in 1697, titled: “An Anatomy of Humane Bodies Epitomized, a Clinical Account of Esophageal Atresia with Distal Tracheo-oesophageal Fistula.” * 1821
Dr. Martin reports the second case of esophageal atresia and distal fistula 124 years after first description by Gibson. 1840 Dr. Thomas Hill reports on the first know case of esophageal atresia and rectal agenesis. His description of the birth defects of the trachea, esophagus and fistula (TEF) including the anal defect could be considered for first describing the multiple birth defects we see today coined VATER Association.1841 Dr. Hirschprung had seen four cases of esophageal atresia with fistula adding to the 10 already in literature. 1869 The first suggestion of surgical treatment by Dr. Timothy Holmes on babies born with esophageal atresia and fistula. 1873
A different type of fistula is described in literature with Lambs description of the ‘H’ fistula in 1873. Usually there is no missing part of the esophagus but there is a small connection between the esophagus and trachea in the shape of the letter H. An example would be when you write the capital letter H you make two vertical lines and connect the lines with a horizontal line. The two horizontal lines are the esophagus and trachea connected by horizontal line the piece of tissue called a fistula. Today also described as both an ‘H’ fistula and ‘N’ fistula.
1880 Morell Mackenzie in 1880 writes an article on ‘Malformations of the esophagus’ adding the one he has now seen to the 56 others already written in literature.
October 20, 1888 Dr. Charles Steele of London performed the first operation on a baby with esophageal atresia. 1898
In 1898 Hoffman operated on a baby with esophageal atresia and is believed to be the first to do a gastrostomy on a baby with esophageal atresia.1913 Dr. Richter tries to separate a baby with esophaageal atresia with a tracheoesophageal fistula. 1923 Dr. Smith tries ligation of the esophagus at the cardia. 1928 Dr. Scott does a gastrostomy and divides the esophagus at the cardia. 1936 Gage and Oschner do a cervical esophagostomy. Open the neck on either side and bring out part of the esophagus. They ligate the esophagus and do a gastrostomy.T. H. Lanman tried the first direct approach to correct esophageal atresia as did Robert Shaw.
1938 Dr. Shaw attempts a primary anastamosis. (bringing the two ends of the esophagus together.)Dr. Gamble does a cervical esophagostomy and divides the stomach.1939
The First survivor of esophageal atresia with distal tracheoesophageal fistula is a baby girl and patient of Dr. William Ladd (Father of Pediatric Surgery) in Boston in 1939. Dr. Ladd’s patient had a distal fistula and he used a staged approach to the operation. This staged approach means that one part of the operation is disconnecting the fistula from the lower part of the trachea and then feeding the baby by the gastrostomy tube and now letting the baby grow and gain strength for the next part of the operation.In the same year and at almost the same time in Minnesota Dr. Leven does a similar operation on a baby boy and this boy survives. This boy was born one day before the baby girl Dr. Imperatori described the success of his operation on a patient with an H fistula. 1941 Dr. Cameran Haight and Dr. Harry Towsley from Michigan successfully operate on a baby girl born with esophageal atresia with a tracheoesophageal fistula. This is the first time the lower part of the esophagus is disconnected and rejoined to the top part of the esophagus called a primary anastamosis (sewing the two ends together) and the patient survives. Medical history is made. Haight had tried this on ten other patients and none survived. This baby girl survived 12 days before her operation was to take place.
1943 using an extrapleural approach, Haight and Towsley reported the first successful repair of esophageal atresia (EA) with
(TEF). 1944 Haight & Towsley successfully repair of esophageal atresia.