Vascular ring: Early and long-term mortality and morbidity after surgical repair.
BACKGROUND
Vascular ring is a rare cause of recurrent respiratory infections, dysphagia and stridor. Surgical repair is considered safe but the long-term outcomes are unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mortality and morbidity following vascular ring surgery in a single institution.


MATERIALS AND METHODS
This retrospective study covers operations done at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark between October 1983 and May 2015. Medical records were reviewed focusing on early complications and long-term complaints up to September 2017.


RESULTS
A total of 23 patients with median age of 1.4 years (range 0.008-64 years) were operated for vascular ring. Median follow-up was 6.8 years (range 2.4-34 years). Presenting symptoms were stridor (52%), dysphagia or vomiting (52%) and recurrent respiratory infections (48%). There were no early or late deaths. Three months postoperatively, 59% reported no respiratory complaints and 50% reported normal eating habits. Long term, only 14% had no complaints. In particular, asthma (36%), persistent stridor (18%) and recurrent respiratory infections (32%) were frequent. A high number of patients developed mental illness (27%).


CONCLUSION
Surgery for vascular ring can be performed with low early and long-term mortality. Despite good three months outcome, the majority of patients had long-term respiratory issues. Oesophageal morbidity was low.


LEVEL-OF-EVIDENCE
2B.
['Schmidt|Anne Mette S|AMS|', 'Larsen|Signe H|SH|', 'Hjortdal|Vibeke E|VE|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D002648:Child D002675:Child, Preschool D003718:Denmark D005260:Female D005500:Follow-Up Studies D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D007231:Infant, Newborn D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D009017:Morbidity D011183:Postoperative Complications D012189:Retrospective Studies D016896:Treatment Outcome D000073872:Vascular Ring D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures D055815:Young Adult
Vascular ring Surgery Asthma Long-term morbidity