Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients With Vascular Ring
Functional Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients With Vascular Ring
To investigate the long term functional capacity and quality of life of patients with a
 history of vascular ring whether they did or did not have corrective surgery. Patients will
 perform pulmonary function test, 6 minute walk test, cardiopulmonary exercise test and will
 fill a quality of life questionnaire.
Vascular rings are congenital vascular anomalies of the aortic arch that compress the
 esophagus and the trachea. The most common vascular rings are double aortic arch and right
 aortic arch with left ligamentum. Pulmonary artery sling is less common. Another cause of
 tracheal compression occurring only in infants is the innominate artery compression syndrome.
 When patients are symptomatic, surgical correction should be performed.

 data regarding long term functional capacity and quality of life is lacking. our aim is to
 investigate the long term functional capacity and quality of life of patients with history of
 vascular ring whether they did or did not have corrective surgery.

 Methods: a prospective study evaluating functional capacity and quality of life the patients
 will perform pulmonary function test, 6 minute walk test, cardiopulmonary exercise test and
 will fill a quality of life questionnaire (sf-36).
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  patients with history of vascular ring

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  refusal to participate

 -  inability to complete cardiopulmonary testing