First lab-grown oesophagus offers hope to children born with rare condition

Casey McIntyre was born with long-gap oesophageal atresia, a rare condition which causes the food pipe to be separated by a wide gap (Family handout/PA) -

The first oesophagus to be engineered in a lab could allow children born with part of their food pipe missing to have a new organ grown for them using their own cells and pig tissue, scientists believe.

Babies born with long-gap oesophageal atresia (LGOA), a rare condition which causes the food pipe to be separated by a wide gap, cannot survive without surgery and face a higher risk of complications.