The normal location of the heart is in the left chest cavity. However, in dextrocardia, the position of the heart is on the right. This condition can be without interference, can also be accompanied by disorders of the heart and changes in the location of other body organs.
Dextrocardia is a rare disease. Some cases of dextrocardia are harmless and do not cause heart function abnormalities, regardless of the abnormal location of the heart.
However, in some other cases, dextrocardia can be accompanied by impaired heart function. In addition, abnormalities can also occur in the location of other organs, such as the liver, spleen, and stomach. This condition is known as dextrocardia with a site inversus.
Causes of Dextrocardia
Until now, the cause of dextrocardia is not known with certainty. However, several studies show that dextrocardia is most likely due to disturbances in the formation of the heart during pregnancy, precisely in the early trimester of pregnancy. This can occur due to genetic or hereditary factors.
Sometimes, dextrocardia can be accompanied by disorders of other organs. One of them is primary ciliary dyskinesia or Kartagener syndrome, in which the fine hair cells in the respiratory tract do not function. This genetic disorder makes the sufferer unable to remove mucus, germs, and dirt from the respiratory tract.
Dextrocardia Symptoms and Complications
Although the location of the heart is abnormal, people with dextrocardia generally do not experience heart function abnormalities, so they do not feel any symptoms and feel healthy.
However, in certain cases, dextrocardia can be accompanied by disturbances in:
1. Heart and blood vessels
Abnormalities in the heart and blood vessels that can occur with dextrocardia are:
- The heart only has 1 atrium (atrium) or 1 chamber (ventricle), whereas normally the heart has 2 atria and 2 chambers.
- The dividing wall between the atria and the chambers of the heart is not completely formed or not at all.
- The formation of a hole or gap in the dividing wall between the right and left ventricles of the heart. This condition is called a VSD.
- The large artery (aorta) connects to the right ventricle of the heart, when it should go to the left ventricle.
- Heart valve abnormalities, so that blood flow can be reversed.
Babies with dextrocardia who also have some of these disorders can show symptoms in the form of bluish skin, shortness of breath, weakness, impaired growth and development, and abnormal heart sounds, such as murmurs.
2. Lungs
Site inversus dextrocardia can cause the lungs and airways to not be able to filter viruses or bacteria from the air properly. This makes dextrocardia sufferers susceptible to lung diseases, such as ARI and pneumonia.
3. Liver and bile ducts
Some liver and bile duct disorders that can appear in dextrocardia site invertus are biliary atresia and the location of the liver that moves to the left abdominal cavity, whereas normally it is located in the right abdominal cavity. People with dextrocardia with this disorder may experience jaundice.
4. Spleen
Some people with dextrocardia are born without a spleen, even though the spleen is an organ that plays an important role in forming the immune system. That is why, babies with dextrocardia who are born without a spleen will be very susceptible to infection.
5. Digestive tract
Changes in the position of organs in the body can also have an impact on the position of the digestive tract. This is at risk of causing disturbances in the digestive system.
Abnormalities in the location of the intestines can cause intestinal malrotation or twisting of the intestines. This condition usually causes symptoms in the form of vomiting bile, abdominal pain and swelling, constipation or diarrhea, and bloody stools.
Dextrocardia Handling Steps
Dextrocardia can be diagnosed by a doctor through a physical examination and supporting examinations, such as an electrocardiogram, echocardiogram, X-ray, CT scan, or MRI of the heart.
If there are no problems with the function of the heart or other organs, dextrocardia does not require any treatment. However, if there are organ dysfunction or other health problems, treatment is needed in the form of:
Operation
Doctors will consider surgical procedures if dextrocardia occurs along with congenital abnormalities or congenital diseases, such as congenital heart defects, digestive tract disorders, or biliary atresia.
Administration of drugs
To treat disorders that occur due to site inversus dextrocardia, doctors can give drugs, including:
- Diuretic drugs, to remove excess salt and water from the body due to abnormal heart function
- Inotropic drugs, to stimulate the heart muscle to pump blood more strongly in people with dextrocardia with a weak heart
- ACE inhibitor, to lower blood pressure and ease the work of the heart
- Antibiotics, to prevent and treat infections in people with dextrocardia who have Kartagener's syndrome or absence of a spleen
Despite the abnormal location of the heart, some people with dextrocardia can live normally and have good heart function. However, if dextrocardia is accompanied by problems with the heart or other organs, immediate treatment by a cardiologist is required.