Dextrocardia and isolated laevocardia. II. Situs inversus and isolated dextrocardia.

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Malformations of the heart found in 29 patients with dextrocardia, and their progress for up to 16 years were described. There were 10 with situs inversus, 16 with isolated dextrocardia and 2 with less usual types that are probably examples of the asplenia syndrome. The associated malformations of the heart and the prognosis in these patients seem to be the same as in those with isolated laevocardia. There is a heavy mortality in infancy and early childhood; but those who survive for 7 years often get on reasonably well, and a few who have an adequate blood supply to the lungs get on very well for 15 years and probably much longer. The frequency of complete or partial situs inversus in those who are born without a spleen was emphasized 30 years ago. Asplenia syndrome and its implications for cases and classification in point here are discussed. Thee is agreement with Van Praagh et al. (1964) that most, but perhaps not all, cases where there appears to be discordance between the situs of the atria and of the abdominal viscera are examples of the asplenia syndrome and often have a liver that occupies both sides.