- Main complications of the heart on the right side of the body
- 1. Right ventricle with two outlets
- 2. Malformation of the wall between the atria and the ventricles
- 3. Defect in the opening of the artery of the right ventricle
- 4. Arteries exchanged in the heart
Dextrocardia is a condition in which the person is born with the heart on the right side of the body, which results in an increased chance of having symptoms that make it difficult to perform daily tasks and that can reduce quality of life, such as shortness of breath and tiredness when walking or climbing stairs, for example. These symptoms arise because in cases of dextrocardia there are greater chances of developing malformations such as swollen arteries, poorly developed heart walls or weaker valves.
However, in some cases, the fact that the heart develops on the right side does not imply any type of complication, as the organs can develop correctly and, therefore, it is not necessary to do any type of treatment.
Thus, it is only necessary to be concerned when the heart is on the right side and symptoms appear that prevent the performance of daily activities. In these cases, it is recommended to go to the pediatrician, in the case of the child, or the cardiologist, in the case of the adult, to assess whether there is a problem and to start the appropriate treatment.
Main complications of the heart on the right side of the body
1. Right ventricle with two outlets
In some cases the heart can develop with a defect called a right ventricle with two exits, in which the two arteries of the heart connect to the same ventricle, unlike the normal heart where each artery connects to a ventricle.
In these cases, the heart also has a small connection between the two ventricles to allow blood to leave the left ventricle that has no outlet. Thus, blood rich in oxygen mixes with blood that comes from the rest of the body, causing symptoms such as:
- Easy and excessive tiredness; Blue skin and lips; Thicker nails; Difficulty in gaining weight and growing; Shortness of breath.
Treatment is usually done with surgery to correct the connection between the two ventricles and to reposition the aortic artery in the correct location. Depending on the severity of the problem, it may be necessary to perform several surgeries to obtain the best result.
2. Malformation of the wall between the atria and the ventricles
The malformation of the walls between the atria and the ventricles occurs when the atria are not divided between themselves, as well as the ventricles, causing the heart to have one atrium and one large ventricle, instead of two. The lack of separation between each atrium and ventricle allows blood to mix and leads to increased pressure in the lungs, causing symptoms such as:
- Excessive tiredness, even when doing simple activities such as walking; Pale or slightly bluish skin; Lack of appetite; Rapid breathing; Swelling of the legs and belly; Frequent pneumonia.
Usually, the treatment of this problem is done about 3 to 6 months after birth with surgery to create a wall between the atria and the ventricles, but, depending on the severity of the problem, the doctor may also prescribe some medications, such as antihypertensive drugs and diuretics, to improve symptoms until the child reaches an age where there is less risk of having surgery.
3. Defect in the opening of the artery of the right ventricle
In some patients with a heart on the right side, the valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery may be poorly developed and, therefore, does not open properly, hindering the passage of blood to the lungs and preventing adequate oxygenation. blood. Depending on the degree of malformation of the valve, symptoms may include:
- Swollen belly; Chest pain; Excessive tiredness and fainting; Difficulty breathing; Purplish skin.
In cases where the problem is mild, treatment may not be necessary, however, when it causes constant and severe symptoms it may be necessary to take drugs that help the blood to circulate better or have surgery to replace the valve, for example.
4. Arteries exchanged in the heart
Although it is one of the rarest cardiac malformations, the problem of switched arteries in the heart can arise more frequently in patients with a right heart. This problem causes the pulmonary artery to be connected to the left ventricle instead of the right ventricle, just as the aortic artery is connected to the right ventricle.
Thus, the heart with oxygen leaves the heart and passes directly to the lungs and does not pass into the rest of the body, while blood without oxygen leaves the heart and passes directly to the body without receiving oxygen in the lungs. Thus, the main symptoms appear shortly after birth and include:
- Bluish skin; Very difficult to breathe; Lack of appetite;
These symptoms appear soon after birth and, therefore, it is necessary to start treatment as soon as possible with the use of prostaglandins that help to maintain a small open hole between the atria to mix the blood, which is present during pregnancy and which closes shortly after delivery. However, surgery must be done during the first week of life to place the arteries in the correct place.
