Ectopia cordis with single ventricle and a diverticulum. Exsanguination from septic necrosis of the ductus arteriosus

An infant is described with partial ectopia cordis and a cardiac diverticulum which orignated from a single ventricle. There was associated deficiency of the lower part of the sternum and lack of pericardial tissue over the diverticulum. These anomalies form part of the midline thoraco-abdominal syndrome in which cardiac anomalies are frequent. The infant died suddenly at 17 days of age owing to haemmorhage from septic ductal necrosis, caused by ascending infection of the tissue between the diverticulum and the thoraci wall.