Scimitar Syndrome is a rare disease and arises due to the presence of a pulmonary vein, shaped like a Turkish sword called a scimitar, which drains the right lung into the inferior vena cava instead of the left atrium. heart.
The change in the shape of the vein causes changes in the size of the right lung, increased force of contraction of the heart, deviation of the heart to the right side, decrease of the right pulmonary artery and abnormal blood circulation to the right lung.
The severity of Scimitar Syndrome varies from individual to individual, with patients who have the disease but do not manifest any signs or symptoms throughout their lives and other individuals who have serious health problems such as pulmonary hypertension, which can lead to death.
Symptoms of Scimitar Syndrome
Symptoms of Scimitar Syndrome can be:
- Shortness of breath; Purple skin due to lack of oxygen; Chest pain; Fatigue; Dizziness; Phlegm with blood; Pneumonia; Heart failure.
The diagnosis of Scimitar Syndrome is made by exams such as chest x-ray, computed tomography and angiography that allows the identification of changes in the shape of the pulmonary artery.
Treatment of Scimitar Syndrome
The treatment of Scimitar Syndrome consists of surgery that redirects the anomalous pulmonary vein from the inferior vena cava to the left atrium of the heart, normalizing the drainage of the lung.
Treatment should be performed only when there is an almost total deviation of blood from the right pulmonary vein to the inferior vena cava or in case of pulmonary hypertension.
Useful link:
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Cardiovascular system
