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Congenital Anomalies By far the most common congenital anomaly of the esophagus is esophageal atresia, a malformation which completely obstructs the lumen of the esophagus. Frequently there is an associated tracheoesophageal fistula between some portion of the obstructed esophagus and the trachea. Four main varieties of this condition occur. In the most common form, characterizing about 80 per cent of the cases, the upper esophagus ends in a dilated blind pouch, and the lower esophageal segment opens into the trachea just above the bifurcation (Figure i, A). Diagnosis. Immediately after birth, excessive saliva is noted in the nose and