VACTERL/VATER Association

Table 4 Sequelae of malformations associated with VACTERL association.

Feature	Early potential medical complications	Later (post-infant) potential medical complications	Reference(s)
Vertebral anomalies	Scoliosis, tethered cord, syrinx	Progressive scoliosis, back pain, osteoarthritis, tethered cord, syrinx	[21, 22]
Anal atresia	Obstruction	Incontinence, constipation, other dysmotility, sexual dysfunction	[22, 73, 75]
Cardiac malformations	Compromised cardiopulmonary function, dysrhythmias	Compromised cardiac function, dysrhythmias	[19, 22]
Tracheo-esophageal fistula	Inability to feed, respiratory compromise, pneumonia	Gastro-esophageal reflux, increased risk of gastro-esophageal cancers (related to reflux), reactive airway disease (can clinically appear similar to asthma, though pulmonary function testing reveals a non-asthma pattern)	[22, 74]
Renal anomalies	Vesicoureteral reflux, hydronephrosis, urinary tract infections (also related to anorectal malformations)	Urinary tract infections (also related to anorectal malformations), nephrolithiasis, impaired renal function	[22, 30]
Limb abnormalities	Functional impairment	Functional impairment	[21, 22]

Logically, the degree of medical complication arising from a particular malformation is highly dependent on the type and severity of the particular malformation.

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