Prenatal Diagnosis of VACTERL association

VACTERL association is a nonrandom association of the fetal anomalies including V(vertebral anomalies), A(anal atresia), C(cardiac abnormalities), TE(tracheoesophageal fistula or esophagial atresia), R(reanl/urinary anomalies) L(limb defects). The etiology is unknown but defects to the mesodermal part of the embryo before the 35 days of gestation may lead to this association. It is a disorder that generally occurs sporadically with a low incidence of associated chromosomal abnormalities. VACTERL association is not uniformly fatal with survival reported to be 100%. However, survivors require significant surgical…