Esophageal atresia - Foker process - Pediatric Playbook

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In some children, the ends are so far apart they cannot be easily connected. To solve that problem, John Foker, MD, PhD, developed a technique to stimulate the upper and lower ends of the esophagus to grow so they could be joined together. Using this technique, surgeons place traction sutures in the tiny esophageal ends and increase tension on these sutures daily until the ends are close enough to be sewn together.
Boston Children's Hospital is the only pediatric hospital that offers the Foker process to treat EA and TEF. Foker has worked exclusively with Russell Jennings, MD to ensure that his successes are continued here in Boston. Dr. Foker is now the Scientific Director of the EAT Program and visiting professor at Harvard Medical School.