A to Z: Atresia

Atresia (ah-TREE-zhah) is a condition in which a baby is born with a missing or closed valve or tube somewhere in his or her body. Atresia can affect many body parts, including the nose, ears, organs, digestive tract, and heart.

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Air, blood, bodily fluids, and waste products travel throughout the body in a system of vessels, tubes, and chambers that are often separated by valves. When a child is born with atresia, it means that a valve is missing or a tube is closed off. This interrupts the normal flow of blood, fluid, waste, or air, which can lead to a number of complications.

Most kinds of atresia are serious and can be fatal if they go untreated. Treatment usually involves surgery while the child is still an infant.

The types of atresia are named for the body parts they affect. Biliary atresia is a defect in the liver or bile system. Choanal atresia is a defect of the nasal passages (choana). Anal atresia (imperforate anus) and esophageal atresia are defects of the digestive tract. Tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia, and aortic atresia involve valves in the heart.