Vascular ring: Clinical and physiological assessment of pulmonary function following surgical correction

Twelve children were evaluated 7.1 years (mean) after surgical repair of a vascular ring causing tracheal compression. Nine patients complained of persistent respiratory symptoms, mostly cough, dyspnea, and/or wheezing. Functional evaluation revealed abnormal spirometry and/or lung volumes in seven subjects. Analysis of maximal expiratory‐inspiratory flow‐volume loops suggested the presence of residual upper airway obstruction in three patients and peripheral airway obstruction in three others. Eleven patients demonstrated bronchial hyperreactivity to histamine.