Dextrocardia
| Dextrocardia | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Medical genetics  |
Dextrocardia refers to the heart being situated on the right side of the body. Dextrocardia Situs Inversus refers to the heart being a mirror image situated on the right side. For all visceral organs to be mirrored, the correct term is Dextrocardia Situs Inversus Totalis.
Dextrocardia is believed to occur in approximately 1 in a 100 people, while 1 in 1,000 of these will have Situs Inversus. Totalis occurs in approximately 1 in 5,000 of Dextrocardia Situs Inversus.
Kartagener’s Disorder occurs in approximately 1 in 25 of Totalis. This Disorder affects the Sinus and Bronchial Cilli causing constant Sinus and Bronchial symptoms that medication can not rectify. With Kartagener’s both are usually present all year rather than being seasonal.
Although statistically Dextrocardia Situs Inversus do not have any medical problems from the disorder, some are prone to a number of bowel, oesophagus, bronchial and cardiac problems. Some of these conditions can be life threatening if left unchecked.
ECG leads must be placed in reversed positions on a person with Dextrocardia. In addition, when defibrillating someone with dextrocardia, the pads should be placed in reverse positions. That is, instead of upper right and lower left, pads should be placed upper left and lower right.
Trivia
Fortune, a character from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty has dextrocardia. The condition prolongs her life when she is shot on the wrong side.
Julius No AKA DR. No from 007 James Bond also suffers from Dextrocardia. He survived being "shot in the heart and left for dead"
References
 | This genetic disorder article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |