Traumatic pharyngeal pseudodiverticulum mimicking esophageal atresia

Abstract

Obstruction of passage of a catheter through esophagus in a newborn is mostly diagnosed as esophageal atresia (EA) with or without tracheo esophageal fistula (TEF). Rarely a traumatic instrumentation may produce pharyngeal or upper esophageal perforation and attempt at passage of a catheter may produce a false passage submucosally called pseudodiverticulum. Here it is present the case of a extremely premature (28 wk) and low birth weight (950 gms) newborn with traumatic laceration and pharyngeal pseudodiverticulum mimicking EA. The authors discuss the diagnostic characteristics and management of such a situation.

Endoscopic treatment of pharyngo-esophageal diverticulum in child

“…Inability to insert a nasogastric tube and barium imaging results can easily be misinterpreted as symptoms of esophageal atresia [10,11]. The patient studied in our report had none of these signs with onset of symptoms at the age of 5 months.…”

Congenital Diseases of Esophagus

“…Few cases are reported that allow no valid conclusions as to their etiology [25]. Pulsion diverticulum is rare in children, and the reported cases were 6-month-to 10-year-old children.…”