VACTERL Association

ALSO KNOWN AS VATER 

VACTERL Association is collection of birth defects affecting different systems of the body. Each letter represents a different abnormality. To be diagnosed with VACTERL there must be three (3) or more conditions identified.  

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• V: Vertebral Abnormalities: 

  • congenital scoliosis​

  • caudal regression

  • hemivertebrae

  • spina bifida 

  • missing bones in sacrum

  • and more

• A: Anorectal Malformations:

  • Anal Atresia/Imperforate Anus​

  • Cloaca

• C: Cardiac

  • hole in the heart​

  • other Cardiac problems

• TE: Tracheo-oesophageal fistula

  • oesophageol atresia​

• R: Renal anomalies, radial limb abnormailites

• L: Limb abnormalities

  • polydactyly/oligodactyly​

  • other limb abnormalities

(Source: Radiopaedia, 2018)

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Occurance rate: it is estimated to occur once in every 10,000 to 40,000 births (U.S National Library of Medicine - Genetic Home Reference, 2018)

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Cause: Due to sporadic occurance with no family history of the condition, there is no one factor that can be identified as a cause of VACTERL. There are no consistent or specific genetic abnormalities that can be linked as the cause. (Genetic And Rare Diseases Information Centre, 2018)

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Treatment: Every case is different, and treatment will be determined by the medical team based on the severity of each clinical feature.