Surgical experience in infants with the VATER association.

The surgical experience in 30 infants with the VATER association of multiple congenital anomalies is detailed. These infants can be satisfactorily managed by a thorough multisystem (cardiac, renal, digestive, orthopedic) evaluation, well planned operative therapy, and sophisticated neonatal intensive care. Survival was achieved in 77% of patients. Satisfactory growth and development and few longterm complications have been observed in this complicated group of infants. These data indicate that infants with the VATER association can lead reasonably normal lives following aggressive operative treatment and supportive care.