VATER/VACTERL Association

VACTERL association is a rare and complex congenital disorder characterized by a combination of birth defects affecting multiple organ systems. VACTERL is an acronym for the most commonly associated defects: vertebral anomalies, anal atresia, cardiac defects, tracheoesophageal fistula, renal anomalies, and limb abnormalities. However, not all VACTERL patients have all these defects. Although the etiology is still unknown, it is considered a multifactorial disorder involving both genetic and environmental factors (Solomon 2011). Managing the VACTERL association requires a multidisciplinary approach involving specialists in pediatric surgery, cardiology, urology, orthopedics, and other fields, depending on the specific defects present.