Prenatal ultrasound combined with cardiovascular casts diagnose symmetrically complex cardiac malformations in two fetuses

Echocardiography. 2021 Aug;38(8):1352-1355. doi: 10.1111/echo.15090. Epub 2021 Jun 22.

Abstract

Dextrocardia with a ductus arteriosus (DA) malformation is extremely rare. Here, we present a case of dextrocardia complicated with a right DA that is circuitously connecting the pulmonary artery and the right brachiocephalic artery. Coincidentally, the deformities of this fetus are almost symmetrical with those in another fetus (also presented here), which is astonishing and meaningful. Dextrocardia is rare, complicated, and not well understood. In this report, we carefully compared prenatal echocardiographic images and cardiovascular casts from two fetuses. Our report of these cases may provide new insights for cardiologists to better understand dextrocardia and its associated malformations.

Keywords: cardiovascular casting; dextrocardia; fetal cardiology; prenatal echocardiography; symmetric cardiac malformations.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Ductus Arteriosus* / diagnostic imaging
  • Ductus Arteriosus, Patent*
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Situs Inversus*
  • Ultrasonography, Prenatal