VACTERL association

The VACTERL syndrome occurs in about 1 : 5,000 births. The genetic disorder that causes the syndrome is still not known. VACTERL is an acronym of the malformations that can be associated with the syndrome: V for vertebral anomalies, A for anal atresia, C for congenital heart disease, T for tracheoesophageal fistula, E for esophageal atresia, R for reno-urinary anomalies, L for radial limb defect. Most patients with a heart defect due to VACTERL association have a ventricular septal defect.

Author(s): Dr Stefanie Weismann-Günzler
Reviewed by: Dr Heide Seidel
Last updated: 2014-03-13