Extrathoracic heart in northern Cameroon: a case report

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Congenital Anomalies
• Cardiology

Background:

• Ectopia cordis and Cantrell's pentalogy are extremely rare congenital anomalies.
• Prenatal diagnosis is feasible via ultrasound, visualizing the heart outside the thoracic cavity.
• This condition often presents with additional congenital defects across multiple organ systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of ectopia cordis.
• To detail the successful surgical correction of ectopia cordis in an infant.
• To contribute to the understanding of managing complex congenital heart defects in pediatric surgery.

Main Methods:

• Prenatal diagnosis using ultrasound.
• Surgical correction of ectopia cordis.
• Postoperative care and monitoring.

Main Results:

• Successful surgical correction of ectopia cordis was achieved.
• The 7-month-old patient from northern Cameroon recovered from the procedure.
• The case demonstrates the feasibility of surgical intervention for this rare anomaly.

Conclusions:

• Surgical correction of ectopia cordis is possible and can be successful.
• Early diagnosis and timely surgical intervention are crucial for favorable outcomes.
• This case underscores the importance of specialized pediatric surgical care in managing rare congenital defects.