Clinical and Surgical Perspectives on Isolated Thoracic Ectopia Cordis: A Rare Case Report

Ectopia cordis is an exceptionally uncommon congenital condition where the heart develops outside its normal position due to incomplete closure of the ventral chest wall during embryogenesis. The anomaly may occur in isolation or with other structural defects, often resulting in a poor prognosis despite advancements in medical and surgical care. This report discusses a preterm neonate delivered at 33 weeks of gestation following an uneventful pregnancy in a dizygotic twin gestation. The neonate, diagnosed with thoracic ectopia cordis, displayed respiratory distress at birth but showed no significant cardiac or extracardiac abnormalities, a rare presentation. Echocardiography identified minor findings, including a small secundum atrial septal defect and trivial valve regurgitation, with otherwise normal cardiac structure and function. The initial management involved covering the exposed heart with sterile dressings, administration of antibiotics, and supportive care. Surgical correction to approximate the chest wall was successfully performed, but the neonate succumbed 2 days postoperatively. This case stands out due to the absence of complex anomalies typically associated with ectopia cordis and highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges encountered in such rare conditions. Cases such as this contribute to a deeper understanding of ectopia cordis and reinforce the need for improved strategies to enhance survival outcomes in similar scenarios.