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Published on: February 8, 2022
A technique for repair of atrioventricular canal defect in dextrocardia
Arul Dominic Furtado1, Raghavendra Chikkatur, Syed Murfad Peer
1Department of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences and Research, Bangalore, India. aruldf@gmail.com
Insights
This study presents a surgical technique for dextrocardia with situs solitus, enabling familiar anatomical orientation for complex congenital heart defect repairs in children. The method involves displacing the heart to the left pleural space for improved surgical access and outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
- Congenital Heart Disease
- Surgical Techniques
Background:
- Dextrocardia with situs solitus is a congenital condition requiring specialized surgical approaches.
- Right atrial access is frequently necessary for correcting associated cardiac anomalies in these patients.
Observation:
- A novel surgical technique is presented for operating on pediatric patients with dextrocardia, situs solitus.
- The technique involves displacing the heart into the left pleural space.
Findings:
- This displacement allows for surgery in an anatomical orientation familiar to the surgeon.
- Facilitates correction of associated cardiac anomalies through a right atrial approach.
Implications:
- Offers a potentially safer and more efficient surgical method for complex congenital heart disease.
- Highlights the importance of anatomical orientation in pediatric cardiac surgery.
- Emphasizes crucial postoperative precautions for optimal patient recovery.
Abstract:
Congenital heart disease with dextrocardia, situs solitus, is not uncommonly seen in paediatric cardiac surgery. An approach through the right atrium for correction of associated cardiac anomalies is needed in most of these cases. We present a technique for operating on this subset of patients wherein the heart can be displaced into the left pleural space allowing for surgery in an anatomical orientation that is familiar to the surgeon and emphasize the precautions to be taken following surgery.

