Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.
1
Is any of this happening now?
Call 911
Call emergency services if you or your child has:
Severe difficulty breathing or is struggling to draw breath
Blue, grey, or unusually pale lips or skin
Pauses in breathing, collapse, or reduced responsiveness
Choking that does not clear
An inability to swallow saliva with breathing distress
These symptoms need emergency assessment, whether or not a vascular ring has already been diagnosed.
Other emergency signs, for anyone
Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
2
Is any of this happening?
Be seen today
Seek prompt medical advice for increasing noisy breathing, new difficulty swallowing, repeated vomiting with feeds, signs of dehydration, or a chest infection with worsening breathing.
After surgery, prompt assessment is also appropriate for breathing that is getting worse, fever with an unwell appearance, or redness, swelling, drainage, or opening of the wound.
3
Does any of this apply?
Book an appointment
Arrange a routine appointment for ongoing noisy breathing, a long-lasting barking cough, repeated chest infections, food sticking during swallowing, slow feeding, or poor weight gain.
These symptoms have several possible causes and do not confirm a vascular ring, but they deserve assessment.
Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Vascular ring. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.