A 4-day-old boy is brought to the pediatric clinic because of breathing difficulties and poor feeding. He coughs, chokes, and spits up milk very soon after beginning to suckle. Physical examination and radiographs reveals the presence of the most common type of tracheoesophageal fistula. The infant's defect likely resulted from

A 4-day-old boy is brought to the pediatric clinic because of breathing difficulties and poor feeding. He coughs, chokes, and spits up milk very soon after beginning to suckle. Physical examination and radiographs reveals the presence of the most common type of tracheoesophageal fistula. The infant's defect likely resulted from

A 4-day-old boy is brought to the pediatric clinic because of breathing difficulties and poor feeding. He coughs, chokes, and spits up milk very soon after beginning to suckle. Physical examination and radiographs reveals the presence of the most common type of tracheoesophageal fistula. The infant's defect likely resulted from



(A)Failure of the buccopharyngeal membrane to rupture
(B)Failure of the tracheoesophageal ridges to fuse
(C)Incomplete formation of the septum secundum
(D)Incomplete recanalization of the larynx
(E)Patent thyroglossal duct

Answer:  (B)Failure of the tracheoesophageal ridges to fuse