Essay On Vascular Rings

Vascular Rings Vascular rings are a very dangerous heart defect in infants. Vascular rings occur in early development of the aortic arch (Vascular Rings). It is a ring that encircles the trachea and esophagus during the development of the aortic arch. When a baby is born, their body is supposed to break down the arches to form arteries (Vascular Ring). There are some arches that do not break down and those will form the vascular rings in infants. Vascular rings are less than one percent of all heart defects and they occur in both males and females equally (Vascular Rings). There are two common types of vascular rings and they are a double aortic arch and a right aortic arch. “Bailey was diagnosed with a right aortic arch off of her heart at just fifteen months old,” Abbey explained. “We noticed when we where trying to feed Bailey she would have a hard time swallowing very little amounts of food,” said Abbey. Symptoms include wheezing, high-pitched cough and even difficulties while feeding (Vascular Rings). Not all children who are born with vascular rings have the severe symptoms so they do not
“I asked the doctor if there was a chance of Bailey dying in surgery since it was her heart but the doctor said that she should come out of it just fine,” Abbey said. Surgery should not be delayed any longer than needed because if the surgery is delayed, it can cause severe damage to the trachea or even sudden death (Vascular Rings). “Bailey had her surgery just three short weeks after she was diagnosed,” Abbey said. “I was just scared out of my mind not knowing what was happening while she was in surgery,” Abbey exclaimed. While in surgery the doctors will surgically cut into the left side of the child and open up the rib cage (Vascular Ring). The surgeon will then find the ring and cut it so it can relieve the pressure off of the esophagus and