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The American Journal of Case Reports Mar 2024BACKGROUND Bilious vomiting in a child potentially portends the dire emergency of intestinal malrotation with volvulus, necessitating prompt surgical management, with...
BACKGROUND Bilious vomiting in a child potentially portends the dire emergency of intestinal malrotation with volvulus, necessitating prompt surgical management, with differentials including small-bowel atresia, duodenal stenosis, annular pancreas, and intussusception. Although the upper-gastrointestinal series (UGI) is the diagnostic investigation of choice, up to 15% of the studies are inconclusive, thereby posing a diagnostic challenge. CASE REPORT We report a case series of 3 children referred for bilious vomiting, whose initial UGI was inconclusive and who were eventually confirmed to have intestinal malrotation at surgery. The first child was a female born at 37 weeks with antenatally diagnosed situs inversus and levocardia, who developed bilious vomiting on day 1 of life. The duodenojejunal flexure (DJ) could not be visualized on the UGI because of faint opacification on first pass of the contrast and subsequent overlap with the proximal jejunal loops. The second child was a male born at 36 weeks, presenting at age 4 months with bilious vomiting of 2 days duration. The third child was a female born at 29 weeks, presenting with bilious aspirates on day 3 of life. UGI for all 3 showed persistent hold-up of contrast at the proximal duodenum with no opacification of the distal duodenum or small bowel.Adjunctive techniques during the UGI and ultrasound examination helped achieve a preoperative diagnosis of malrotation in these children. CONCLUSIONS Application of diagnostic adjuncts to an inconclusive initial UGI may help elucidate a preoperative diagnosis of intestinal malrotation in infantile bilious vomiting.
Topics: Female; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Male; Duodenum; Intestinal Atresia; Intestinal Volvulus; Nausea; Vomiting
PubMed: 38483097
DOI: 10.12659/AJCR.943056 -
Journal of Medical Case Reports Dec 2023Situs inversus with levocardia is a rare anomaly in which the heart is present in the left chest but the abdominal viscera are transposed. It is caused by a single...
BACKGROUND
Situs inversus with levocardia is a rare anomaly in which the heart is present in the left chest but the abdominal viscera are transposed. It is caused by a single incomplete penetration of an autosomal recessive gene. It is unclear what exactly causes situs inversus with levocardia. Even if situs inversus can be identified following a comprehensive physical examination, it is now possible to validate the results and search for further information and pathologies since medical imaging is so widely accessible.
CASE
A 15-year-old Oromo male child from a remote area of Bale Zone presented to the Goba Referral Hospital's medical emergency outpatient department complaining of periumbilical pain that had persisted for 4 months. He frequently came to our hospital and was admitted three times with the same problem. Objectively, there was tenderness over the left lower quadrant and periumbilical area. The sonographic evaluation discovered the transposition of the liver and spleen with cardiac apex on the left side. He received conservative treatment with ceftriaxone 1 g intravenous twice a day and metronidazole 500 mg intravenous for 5 days, and he went home improved.
CONCLUSION
Isolated levocardia is a rare form of situs inversus in which the heart is in the traditional levo position while the abdominal organs are in the dextro position. What causes situs inversus with levocardia is unknown. Despite the fact that situs inversus can be diagnosed after a thorough physical examination, medical imaging has allowed us to confirm the findings as well as understand more about diseases. Due to the severity of an underlying heart defect, situs inversus with levocardia has a dismal prognosis.
Topics: Child; Male; Adolescent; Humans; Levocardia; Situs Inversus; Heart Defects, Congenital; Viscera; Abdomen
PubMed: 38042875
DOI: 10.1186/s13256-023-04254-9 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Apr 2023Positional abnormalities per se do not require treatment, but in their place, the accompanying pulmonary pathology in dextroposition patients and pathophysiologic... (Review)
Review
Positional abnormalities per se do not require treatment, but in their place, the accompanying pulmonary pathology in dextroposition patients and pathophysiologic hemodynamic abnormalities resulting from multiple defects in patients with cardiac malposition should be the focus of treatment. At the time of the first presentation, treating the pathophysiologic aberrations caused by the defect complex, whether it is by improving the pulmonary blood flow or restricting it, is the first step. Some patients with simpler or single defects are amenable to surgical or transcatheter therapy and should be treated accordingly. Other associated defects should also be treated appropriately. Biventricular or univentricular repair dependent on the patient's cardiac structure should be planned. Complications in-between Fontan stages and after conclusion of Fontan surgery may occur and should be promptly diagnosed and addressed accordingly. Several other cardiac abnormalities unrelated to the initially identified heart defects may manifest in adulthood, and they should also be treated.
PubMed: 37189988
DOI: 10.3390/children10040739 -
Children (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2022A significant number of patients with dextrocardia and other cardiac malpositions have other congenital heart defects (CHDs). The incidence of CHDs in subjects with... (Review)
Review
A significant number of patients with dextrocardia and other cardiac malpositions have other congenital heart defects (CHDs). The incidence of CHDs in subjects with cardiac malpositions is significantly greater than that in normal children, and the prevalence varies with the associated visceroatrial situs. The most useful approach to diagnosis is segmental analysis. Firstly, dextroposition should be excluded. In segmental analysis, the visceroatrial situs, ventricular location, status of atrioventricular connections, the great artery relationship, and conotruncal relationship are determined with the use of electrocardiogram (ECG), chest X-ray, and echocardiographic studies, and, when necessary, other imaging studies, including angiography. Following identification of the afore-mentioned segments, the associated defects in the atrial and ventricular septae, valvar and vascular stenosis or atresia may be determined by a review of the historical information, physical examination, and analysis of chest roentgenogram, ECG, and echocardiographic studies. Along the way, a pictorial rendition of the terminology and diagnosis of cardiac malpositions is undertaken.
PubMed: 36553425
DOI: 10.3390/children9121977 -
Journal of Surgical Case Reports Jul 2022Situs inversus (SI) is a very rare congenital disease affecting one in 10 000 people. It is characterized by a mirror image transposition of both abdominal and thoracic...
Situs inversus (SI) is a very rare congenital disease affecting one in 10 000 people. It is characterized by a mirror image transposition of both abdominal and thoracic organs. Diagnosis of SI is usually made incidentally while investigating for unrelated medical problem. It can be associated with cardiac and respiratory anomalies that may cause perioperative morbidity if not diagnosed before surgery. There are limited case reports in literature of SI patients that underwent bariatric procedures. We report a case of a 32-year-old female with SI partialis and levocardia who successfully underwent laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy. We concluded that sleeve gastrectomy is safe in patients with SI if diagnosed preoperatively and if all the necessary precautions are taken into consideration before and during the surgery.
PubMed: 35919692
DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjac325 -
BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Jul 2022Monochorionic dizygotic twins are a rare condition, mostly related to assisted reproductive technology. This type of twinning is burdened by the same risk of pregnancy...
BACKGROUND
Monochorionic dizygotic twins are a rare condition, mostly related to assisted reproductive technology. This type of twinning is burdened by the same risk of pregnancy complications found in monochorionic monozygotic pregnancies.
CASE PRESENTATION
We report a case of spontaneous monochorionic dizygotic twins sharing situs inversus abdominalis and isolated levocardia, with only one twin affected by biliary atresia with splenic malformation syndrome. We also conducted a literature review of the 14 available documented monochorionic dizygotic twin gestations spontaneously conceived.
CONCLUSIONS
It is still unclear how this unusual type of twinning can occur in spontaneous conception. The evidence so far suggest the importance to timely diagnose the chorionicity, in order to adequately manage the typical complications associated with monochorionicity.
Topics: Chorion; Female; Humans; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Pregnancy, Twin; Reproductive Techniques, Assisted; Twins, Dizygotic; Twins, Monozygotic
PubMed: 35836143
DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04866-x -
BMJ Case Reports Apr 2022
Topics: Congenitally Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries; Humans; Levocardia; Situs Inversus; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Transposition of Great Vessels
PubMed: 35428663
DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2021-245839 -
Turk Kardiyoloji Dernegi Arsivi : Turk... Dec 2021
Topics: Adolescent; Echocardiography; Female; Humans; Levocardia; Pericardium; Tomography, X-Ray Computed
PubMed: 34881712
DOI: 10.5543/tkda.2021.21132 -
Annals of Medicine and Surgery (2012) Dec 2021Obesity is a worldwide pandemic and is closely associated with an increased risk of comorbidities and overall mortality. Surgery has emerged as an essential strategy to...
INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE
Obesity is a worldwide pandemic and is closely associated with an increased risk of comorbidities and overall mortality. Surgery has emerged as an essential strategy to ameliorate obesity-attributable comorbidities and as a powerful weight-loss tool. Due to the increasing number of obese patients predicted to elect surgery, individuals with rare anomalies such as situs inversus can be expected.
CASE PRESENTATION
We present the case of a 49-year-old woman with situs inversus with levocardia. She had a high BMI and was admitted for bariatric surgery. After several adjustments to our technique, the procedure was completed without complications.
CLINICAL DISCUSSION
Laparoscopic bariatric surgeries are highly demanding; variations from the normal anatomy could challenge the medical team.
CONCLUSION
Preoperative diagnosis and highly trained surgeons is of paramount importance to adequately treat every patient.
PubMed: 34840772
DOI: 10.1016/j.amsu.2021.102972 -
European Heart Journal. Case Reports Jul 2021Cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation (cbPVI) is a standardized treatment of atrial fibrillation. In complex anatomies, radiofrequency ablation (rfPVI) is usually...
BACKGROUND
Cryoballoon-based pulmonary vein isolation (cbPVI) is a standardized treatment of atrial fibrillation. In complex anatomies, radiofrequency ablation (rfPVI) is usually preferred. We describe the first cbPVI in a rare patient with SI and levocardia.
CASE SUMMARY
A 41-year-old male patient with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was referred to our clinic after a previous, unsuccessful cbPVI procedure. Observation of an atypical lead-wire position due to an abnormal anatomy of the inferior vena cava led to its initial termination. A subsequent thoraco-abdominal computed tomography revealed situs inversus abdominalis and levocardia and the procedure was re-attempted in our clinic. Transseptal puncture (TSP) was guided via transoesophageal echocardiography and fluoroscopy, using a SL0-Sheath and a standard BRK-needle. Advancement of the sheath initially failed but after additional dilatation with an Inoue dilator, transseptal passage of the sheath was successful. Due to the unusual antero-cranial TSP, the septal pulmonary veins (PV) contrasted poorly. After repeat TSP, a steerable FlexCath Advance sheath was introduced into the left atrium using an Amplatz Super Stiff guidewire. Subsequently, all PV were intubated with the Achieve catheter, over which a 2nd generation cryoballoon was introduced. Despite the practical challenges in this case, all PV were isolated.
DISCUSSION
The main challenges include the achievement of transseptal access and manipulation of the cryoballoon to achieve a patent seal of the pulmonary veins. cbPVI eliminates the need for constant re-positioning of the ablation catheter and might facilitate the creation of durable lesions under such difficult anatomical conditions.
PubMed: 34240004
DOI: 10.1093/ehjcr/ytab245