Woman with reverse heart operated

Following frequent episodes of tiredness and chest discomfort, Divya (name changed) went to get an X-ray about three months in the city. However, when the X-ray results were delivered, the lab technician was fired from his job.

Reason - the X-ray showed Divya’s heart anatomy in reverse. But this was no joke, or even a technical error. Scarily enough for Divya and her family members, not only was it established that she was born with a heart in reverse position, but it was also found out that her lungs, liver, stomach, and gallbladder were a mirror image of the normal anatomy.

Divya, who hails from Gundlupet taluk in Chamarajanagar was diagnosed with multiple congenital complications, including a hole in her heart (Atrial Septal Defect) and abnormal placement of visceral organs (Dextrocardia with Inversus Totalis).

 The hospital that diagnosed it was unsure of performing a surgery on her as her anatomy was uncommon, making it a highly uncommon case. Another complication was Divya’s rare blood group (O negative).

Today, Divya is leading a normal life. This, after she was successfully operated by a team headed by Senior Cardiac Surgeon Dr M N Ravi at the Narayana Mutlispeciality hospital, in the city.  According to the surgeon, the team took up Divya’s case as a challenge and devised a thorough surgical strategy to perform an open heart surgery using her own blood.

Dextrocardia that affects the heart function can cause a variety of symptoms such as breathing difficulties, fatigue with heart defects and blue lips and skin. 

Symptoms

The symptoms are consistent with defects in the ventricles of the heart. Lack of oxygen in the heart can make the patient tired and may prevent growth as well.

Speaking to the media, Dr Ravi said that since Divya’s heart and chambers were in the reverse location, the team had to operate on the heart from the opposite side. “The positioning of the heart lung machine was also changed. We also collected her own blood and transfused it back during the surgery, which is not common. This was a very rare case, and we have treated her successfully,” he added.

The entire surgery took three hours and Divya was discharged three days after the surgery.  The experts treating her say that she will be able to lead a normal life.