What Is Dextrocardia?

Dextrocardia (right heart syndrome) is a rare form of congenital heart disease in which the heart is located in the right side of the chest, instead of the left. It occurs when the heart fails to develop properly during fetal development.

In most cases, dextrocardia is an isolated condition, meaning that it does not involve other heart defects. However, it can sometimes be associated with other congenital heart anomalies, such as atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, or tetralogy of Fallot.

Dextrocardia can range from mild to severe. In some cases, the heart may be completely transposed, meaning that the left atrium and ventricle are located on the right side of the body, and the right atrium and ventricle are located on the left side. In other cases, only the ventricles may be transposed, or the heart may be partially transposed.

The signs and symptoms of dextrocardia vary depending on the severity of the condition and the presence of other heart defects. Some common signs and symptoms of dextrocardia include:

- Chest pain

- Shortness of breath

- Fatigue

- Arrhythmia (irregular heartbeats)

- Cyanosis (a blue tint to the skin)

- Difficulty feeding (in infants)

- Exercise intolerance

Treatment for dextrocardia depends on the severity of the condition. In some cases, no treatment is necessary. In other cases, surgery may be required to correct the heart defects.