Mitral valve replacement via a left thoracotomy in dextrocardia and situs solitus

Therapy of Patients with Cardiac Malposition

Positional abnormalities per se do not require treatment, but in their place, the accompanying pulmonary pathology in dextroposition patients and pathophysiologic hemodynamic abnormalities resulting from multiple defects in patients with cardiac malposition should be the focus of treatment. At the time of the first presentation, treating the pathophysiologic aberrations caused by the defect complex, whether it is by improving the pulmonary blood flow or restricting it, is the first step. Some patients with simpler or single defects are amenable to surgical or transcatheter therapy and should be treated accordingly. Other associated defects should also be treated appropriately. Biventricular or univentricular repair dependent on the patient's cardiac structure should be planned. Complications in-between Fontan stages and after conclusion of Fontan surgery may occur and should be promptly diagnosed and addressed accordingly. Several other cardiac abnormalities unrelated to the initially identified heart defects may manifest in adulthood, and they should also be treated.

Minimally invasive mitral valve replacement and concomitant Cox-Maze IV procedure using radiofrequency energy in situs inversus totalis: A case report

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Cardiac surgery in a patient with situs inversus totalis poses technical challenges.

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CT 3D-reconstruction helps operative planning.

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Minimally invasive approach is safe and effective for patients with SIT.

Introduction

Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is an uncommon congenital condition characterized by total transposition of abdominal and thoracic viscera. Performing minimally invasive cardiac surgery on individuals with SIT requires different surgical planning because of the unfamiliar positions of the heart and great vessels.

Presentation of case

A 52-year-old female was admitted to our center with palpitations and dyspnea on exertion. Chest X-ray showed dextrocardia. Echocardiography and chest computerized tomography (CT) revealed SIT with severe rheumatic mitral valve disease.

Discussion

Pre-operative three-dimensional (3D) chest CT reconstruction was helpful in surgical planning and management of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Mitral valve replacement and concomitant atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation using radiofrequency (RF) energy via left mini-thoracotomy was successfully performed on the patient.

Conclusion

Minimally invasive approach can be safely and effectively employed in patients with SIT.

Ischemic mitral regurgitation in a patient with dextrocardia and situs inversus totalis

Dextrocardia with situs inversus is a rare condition. Few previously published cases have addressed the observation of isolated coronary artery disease or isolated mitral valve disease in these patients. However, the occurrence of ischemic mitral regurgitation in such cases has never been previously reported. Here, we report such a case with emphasis on both surgical and echocardiographic features.