Esophageal and Airway Treatment (EAT) Program
Children with complex esophageal and airway conditions often have swallowing and breathing difficulties. These children will find the care they need at the Esophageal and Airway Treatment (EAT) Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).
We are one of only a few places in the country able to provide the breadth and depth of care your child may need. Our program leaders have many years of experience with complex esophageal and airway problems. They work with experts across many specialties to provide complete, personalized and proactive care for children and their families. This can start before birth and continue throughout childhood and long-term follow up.
Why Choose Us?
Illustration of a long-gap esophageal atresia that can be treated surgically by the EAT Program
Living with swallowing and breathing difficulties is hard. Children with these problems often struggle with common childhood respiratory illnesses and spend a lot of time in the hospital.
Conditions that involve narrowing or blockage of the esophagus and airway can be very complicated. Many times, families come to us unaware of all the options for care. Some have been told their child may outgrow their condition. Other times, they’ve been offered outdated care. They may not know about newer and more innovative treatment approaches that are possible. At CHOP, we offer the most comprehensive and advanced treatment options for children with these complex conditions, all in one place.
Conditions We Treat
Our clinicians specialize in diagnosing and treating children with:
- Esophageal Atresia/Tracheoesophageal Fistula (EA/TEF)
- Congenital Esophageal Strictures
- Acquired Esophageal Strictures
- Tracheomalacia/Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM)
- Recurrent Tracheoesophageal Fistulas
- Laryngeal Cleft
How We Serve You: Esophageal and Airway Treatments We Offer
Every step of the way, our focus is on optimizing each child’s health and growth. This starts with their initial evaluation and continues through long-term follow up by our multidisciplinary team. We work closely with families to create a personalized treatment plan for your child. Their care plan may include both nonsurgical and surgical treatment options.
Our state-of-the-art precision treatments include:
- Esophageal atresia repair
- Primary repair
- Tension-accelerated natural growth (Foker process) for long-gap esophageal atresia
- Esophageal stricture therapy – endoscopic and surgical resection
- Tracheoesophageal fistula repair – endoscopic and surgical closures
- Posterior tracheopexy for severe tracheobronchomalacia and recurrent TEF
- Anterior tracheopexy for severe tracheobronchomalacia
Our Team
Your child will be cared for by a team with exceptional knowledge and experience in the care of these specific esophageal and airway conditions. Our vast team includes specialists from across CHOP. We collaborate to provide the most comprehensive care for children and their families from before birth throughout childhood.
