Born Without a Food Pipe, Newborn weighing mere 1.7 Kgs Treated Successfully at Fortis Gurugram via Minimally Invasive Procedure

Born Without a Food Pipe, Newborn weighing mere 1.7 Kgs Treated Successfully at Fortis Gurugram via Minimally Invasive Procedure 

– A rare congenital condition seen in only 1 in 3,500 births – 

 Gurugram, May 2025: Doctors at Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram have successfully treated a newborn, who was born without a food pipe, a rare congenital disorder known as Esophageal Atresia. The newborn was referred from a hospital in Haryana’s Rewari with a birth weight of mere 1.7 kgs and had a hole in the heart. Such newborns are unable to feed as their mouth is not connected to the stomach as the food pipe is missing and they are at high risk of recurrent pneumonia.  

The complex case was managed by team of doctors led by Dr Anand Sinha, Director, Paediatric Surgery, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram successfully treated the newborn via a minimally invasive thoracoscopic procedure.  The surgery lasted for around 4 hours, and the baby was discharged in a stable condition in 15 days of post-operative care. This condition is quite uncommon and is reported in 1: 3500 births. 

The newborn was admitted at Fortis Gurugram with difficulty in breathing and excess saliva production which was oozing from his mouth. Upon admission, an X-ray of the chest and abdomen revealed that a tube inserted through the mouth could not reach the stomach, indicating an absent or disconnected food pipe, confirming the diagnosis of esophageal atresia.  

To address this medical challenge, the medical team opted for a minimally invasive thoracoscopic procedure to repair the defect. This advanced technique involves connecting the two ends of the esophagus through tiny incisions in the chest, avoiding the need for a large surgical cut. It significantly reduces recovery time, minimizes stress on the newborn, and prevents long-term scarring. The procedure is technically demanding, particularly in newborns with low birth weight, due to the limited space within the chest cavity. It requires years of specialized training and experience. Despite these challenges, the surgical team successfully performed the operation with the critical support of expert anesthesiologists and neonatal intensive care. Timely intervention was crucial - without it, the child would not have survived. 

Giving details of the case, Dr Anand Sinha, Director, Paediatric Surgery, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram said, “The baby was born with esophageal atresia - a congenital condition where the food pipe does not connect the mouth to the stomach. Newborns with this condition are unable to feed normally and are at high risk of developing pneumonia. The baby was promptly stabilized and underwent thoracoscopic repair of esophageal atresia. Traditionally, this surgery required a large incision in the chest. However, in the last decade, minimally invasive thoracoscopic surgery - performed through three small incisions has become increasingly preferred due to the faster recovery and better outcomes. Despite this, thoracoscopic repair is usually reserved for babies with higher birth weights and no major associated anomalies, such as heart defects. In this case, the baby successfully underwent thoracoscopic repair despite the challenges posed by low birth weight and a small hole in his heart. The procedure was well tolerated, and the baby is now being discharged, feeding well by mouth.” 

Yash Rawat, Vice- President  &  Facility Director, Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurugram said, “This was a complex case due to the absence of food pipe and age of the newborn. However, under the expert leadership of Dr. Anand Sinha, our dedicated team of doctors managed the case with outstanding skill and precision. At Fortis Hospital, Gurugram, delivering advanced clinical expertise and world-class care in challenging cases like this is our hallmark. We remain committed to providing the highest standards of medical care, with the goal of saving lives and achieving the best possible outcomes for our patients.” 

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