Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-t8hqh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T18:57:23.907Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Prenatal diagnosis of isomerism of the right atrial appendages

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 August 2008

Giuseppe Rossi*
Affiliation:
Hospital “F. del Ponte”, Cardiology, Varese
Antonio Corno
Affiliation:
Hospital “S. Donato”, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Milano
Giuseppe Montemurro
Affiliation:
Hospital “F. del Ponte”, Cardiology, Varese
*
Dr. Giluseppe Rossi, Cardiologia, Ospedale F. del Ponte, Via F. del Ponte 21100 Varese (VA), Italy. Tel 0332-285300 ext.234.

Abstract

A complex malformation of the heart was diagnosed by fetal echocardiography at 27 weeks of gestation. The study of the relationship of the abdominal great vessels, showing the inferior caval vein anterior and to the left of the aorta, made possible the diagnosis of right isomerism. This inferential guide to the arrangement of the thoraco abdominal organs proves to be as valid in the fetus as it is in the neonate and child. The examination of the abdominal great vessels as part of the fetal scan is of great value, enabling us to counsel mothers appropriately in the light of the poor prognosis of neonates with isomerism of atrial appendages and complex intracardiac lesions.

Type
Brief Reports
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Stumper, OFW, Sreeram, N, Elzenga, NJ, Sutherland, GR. Diagnosis of atrial situs by Transesophageal Echocardiography. J Am Coll Cardiol 1990; 16: 442446.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2. Sharma, S, Devine, W, Anderson, RH, Zuberbuhler, JR. The determination of atrial arrangement by examination of appendage morphology in 1842 autopsied specimens. Br Heart J 1988; 60: 227231.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Huhta, JC, Smallhorn, JF, Macartney, FJ. Two dimensional echocardiographic diagnosis of sirus. Br Heart J 1982; 48: 97108.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
4. Van Praagh, R, Van Praagh, S. Atrial isomerism in the heterotaxy syndromes with asplenia, or polysplenia, or normally formed spleen: an erroneous concept. Am J Cardiol 1990; 66: 15041506.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. Anderson, C, Devine, WA, Anderson, RH, Debich, DE, Zuberbuhler, JR. Abnormalities of the spleen in relation to congenital malformations of the heart: a survey of necropsy findings in children. Br Heart J 1990; 63: 122128.CrossRefGoogle Scholar