Dextrocardia: An anomaly that few know about
It was during a routine medical evaluation in her second pregnancy that Jenifer Gonzalez first heard that she had a right-sided heart. She was shocked, as she had led a completely normal life without knowing that she had a congenital anomaly.
This anomaly is called dextrocardia, and like Gonzalez, very few know about it, since dextrocardia occurs in 0.01% of the population, and has a 3-5% incidence rate associated with congenital heart disease, affecting men and women equally, explains Dr. Carlos Brito Reynoso, an internist cardiologist.
"Dextrocardia is an anomaly in which the heart is located in the right half of the thorax and not in the left half of the thorax as is normal. The heart is located in the middle part of the thorax, with its apex or apex (tip) inclined to the left, but in this malformation of genetic origin this situation varies and the heart is located inclined to the right side of the thorax" said the physician of the Hospital Metropolitano de Santiago (HOMS).
The physician pointed out that dextrocardia is usually accompanied by an anomaly called situs inversus (of 125 patients with dextrocardia, 39.2% have situs inversus), which consists of the organs being on the opposite side to the one they should be on, affecting only the odd organs, which are located on a certain side of the body, such as the liver, pancreas, stomach and cecum.
"In some cases, however, it may also be associated with situs ambigus, which in this case may be only one of the organs that is inverted and the others are in their normal positions."
Its cause? The specialist maintains that it is a defect of embryonic development, of genetic origin. This occurs during the fourth week of embryonic development, at which time the primitive heart tube bends to the right, when it should normally bend to the left.
Although it is mostly discovered as an incidental finding to confirm suspicions, the physician can make the diagnosis with an adequate physical examination, which is part of every medical evaluation.
The health professional will always use some tests such as chest X-rays, echocardiogram, magnetic resonance imaging, electrocardiogram and tomography to make a correct diagnosis and rule out other associated congenital malformations.
Dr. Brito Reynoso pointed out that without other associated congenital malformations, infants with simple dextrocardia have an absolutely normal life expectancy, presenting no clinical or symptomatology associated with it during their development.
"Even adults with dextrocardia not associated with other entities can lead a completely normal life, even being diagnosed in adulthood incidentally, in the context of a medical evaluation," he said.
Link El Nacional:
Dextrocardia: An anomaly that few know about – El Nacional
Doctor: Dr. Carlos Brito
Other places where it was published:
https://www.yumpu.com/es/document/read/68368207/impreso-martes-25-julio-2023
https://www.instagram.com/p/CvIgz8pLM3g/
https://www.dominicanos.nyc/2023/07/25/dextrocardia-una-anomalia-que-pocos-conocen/
https://puntacanahits.com/dextrocardia-una-anomalia-que-pocos-conocen/
