Vascular ring (patient information)
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What is vascular ring?
How do I know if I have vascular ring and what are the symptoms of vascular ring?
Some children with vascular ring never develop symptoms. However, other cases may show breathing and digestive problems caused by the pressure on the windpipe and esophagus.
- High-pitched cough
- Wheezing
- Respiratory infections
- Dysphagia
- Gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
- Slow breast or bottle feeding
- Vomiting
Who is at risk for vascular ring?
Although the cause of vascular ring is not clear, studies has demonstrated that it is associated with chromosome deletion.
How to know you have vascular ring?
- Barium esophagram: Barium esophagram may be the most important study in patients with a suspected vascular ring. During the test, the patient drinks a millkshake-like substance called barium. X-ray method called fluroscopy tracks how the barium moves through your esophagus, stomach, and small intestine. Pictures are taken in a variety of positions. Patients may show abnormal compression of the middle part of the esophagus characteristic for a vascular ring.
- Chest x-ray: Children with vascular ring usually present respiratory difficulty, so chest x-ray is always the first and most commonly performed test. If a child with airway difficulties, respiratory distress or dysphagia appears a right aortic arch on chest radiograph, a vascular ring should be suspected.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Treatment options
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for vascular ring?
Directions to Hospitals Treating vascular ring
Prevention of vascular ring
What to expect (Outook/Prognosis)?
Prognosis of vascular ring depends on:
- The pressure of the vascular ring putting on the esophagus and trachea
- How quickly the infant is diagnosed and treated
- Whether the surgery has been done or not.
Copyleft Sources
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007318.htm
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/health/heart-encyclopedia/anomalies/rings.htm