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Do all patients with dextrocardia with situs inversus have the liver and spleen reversed as well as their heart?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
No, and is generally related to a poor prognosis as it creates (in some individuals) a cyanotic heart defect similar in symptoms to a tranposition of the great vessels.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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How common is situs inversus?
However, in about 1 in 8,500 people, the organs of the chest and abdomen are arranged in the exact opposite position: the heart is on the right (dextrocardia ), as is the two-lobed lung, and the liver, spleen, and three-lobed lung are on the left.
What effects does the situs inversus do?
It is perfectly normal to have the situs inversus. You have the organs placed in mirror image of the so called normal side. It will give confusing E.C.G results. The deadly condition like acute appedicitis may be missed. Other wise you can enjoy the liver of the left side and spleen on the right side. Your physician will go to the other side of the bed and may examine you with his left hand.
What occurs in patients with Types A and B Niemann-Pick disease?
In patients with Types A and B NPD, there is a build up of sphingomyelin in cells of the brain, liver, spleen, kidney and lung.
When comparing blood smears of patients with intact spleens and patients without spleens the patients without spleens will reveal what?
Patients without spleens will typically show an increased number of Howell-Jolly bodies in their blood smears. Howell-Jolly bodies are small nuclear remnants that are normally removed by the spleen. Without a spleen, these remnants are not effectively cleared from the bloodstream, leading to their increased presence in the blood smears.
Where in the body is the largest single collection of lymphoid tissue?
That is called as Spleen.
What organ do the job of the spleen after a spleenectomy?
Some of the jobs of the spleen are taken over by the liver, but not all. The spleen stores platelets for instance. This job is not done by anything after the spleen is removed, but this is really not too big of a deal. The spleen also takes apart red blood cells after they are dead and can reuse the material taken from them (This process also creates bilirubin which is taken by the liver and is an ingredient of bile, the substance stored in your gallbladder and used in digestion). The spleen is also part of your lymphatic and immune system, so there are some jobs that go undone. There are meds that patients of spleen removal must take for the rest of their life after a splenectomy.
Dextrocardia?
DefinitionDextrocardia is a condition in which the heart is pointed toward the right side of the chest instead of normally pointing to the left. It is present at birth (congenital).Alternative NamesDetroversion; DextrorotationCauses, incidence, and risk factorsDuring the early weeks of pregnancy, the baby's heart develops. Sometimes, for reasons that are unclear, the heart develops and turns so that it points to the right side of the chest instead of the left side.There are several types of dextrocardia. Most involve other defects of the heart and abdomen area.The simplest type of dextrocardia is one in which the heart is a mirror image of the normal heart, and no other problems exist. This condition is rare. Usually in this case, the organs of the abdomen and the lungs will also be arranged in a mirror image of their normal position. For example, the liver will be on the left side instead of the right.Some people with mirror-image dextrocardia have a problem with the fine hairs (cilia) that filter the air going into their nose and air passages. This condition is called Kartagener syndrome.In the more common types of dextrocardia, heart defects are present in addition to the abnormal location of the heart. The most common heart defects seen with dextrocardia include:Double outlet right ventricleEndocardial cushion defectPulmonary stenosis or atresiaSingle ventricleTransposition of the great vesselsVentricular septal defectThe abdominal and chest organs in babies with dextrocardia may be abnormal and may not work correctly. A very serious syndrome that appears with dextrocardia is called heterotaxy. Heterotaxy means the organs (atria of the heart and abdominal organs) are not in their usual places.In heterotaxy, the spleen may be completely missing. Because the spleen is an extremely important part of the immune system, babies born without a spleen are in danger of severe bacterial infections and death. In another form of heterotaxy several small spleens exist, but may not work correctly.Heterotaxy may also include:Abnormal gallbladder systemProblems with the lungsProblems with the structure of the intestinesSevere heart defectsPossible risk factors for dextrocardia include:Family history of the conditionMother with diabetes (may play a role in some forms of dextrocardia)SymptomsThere are no symptoms of dextrocardia if the heart is normal.Conditions that may include dextrocardia may cause the following symptoms:Bluish skinDifficulty breathingFailure to grow and gain weightFatigueJaundice (yellow skin and eyes)Pale skin (pallor)Repeated sinus or lung infectionsSigns and testsThere are no signs of dextrocardia if the heart is normal.Conditions that can include dextrocardia may cause the following signs:Abnormal arrangement and structure of the organs in the abdomenEnlarged heartProblems with the structure of the chest and lungs, seen on x-raysRapid breathing or problems breathingRapid pulseTests to diagnose dextrocardia include:Computed tomography (CT) scansMagnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the heartUltrasound of the heart (echocardiogram)X-raysTreatmentA complete mirror image dextrocardia with no heart defects requires no treatment. It is important, however, to let the child's health care provider know the heart is on the right side of the chest. This information can be important in some exams and tests.Treatment for conditions that include dextrocardia depends on whether the infant has other heart or physical problems in addition to dextrocardia.If heart defects are present with dextrocardia, the baby will most likely need surgery. Critically ill babies may need treatment with medication before surgery. These medications help the baby grow larger so surgery is less difficult to perform.Medications include:"Water pills" (diuretics)Medications that help the heart muscle pump more forcefully (inotropic agents)Medications that lower blood pressure and ease the workload on the heart (ACE inhibitors)The baby might also need surgery to correct problems in the organs of the abdomen.Children with Kartagener syndrome will need repeated treatment with antibiotics for sinus infections.Children with a missing or abnormal spleen need long-term antibiotics.All children with heart defects should get antibiotics before surgeries or dental treatments.See also:Congenital heart defect corrective surgeryPediatric heart surgeryExpectations (prognosis)Babies with simple dextrocardia have a normal life expectancy and should have no problems related to the location of the heart.When dextrocardia appears with other defects in the heart and elsewhere in the body, how well the baby does depends on the severity of the problems.The death rate in babies and children without a spleen may be high due to infections. This is at least partially preventable with daily antibiotics.ComplicationsComplications depend on whether dextrocardia is part of a larger syndrome, and whether other problems exist in the body. Complications include:Bacteria in the blood (septic shock)Blocked intestines (due to a condition called intestinal malrotation)Congestive heart failureDeathInfection (heterotaxy with no spleen)Infertility in males (Kartagener syndrome)Repeated pneumoniasRepeated sinus infections (Kartagener syndrome)Calling your health care providerCall your health care provider if your baby:Is often illDoes not seem to gain weightTires easilySeek emergency care if your baby has:A bluish tinge to the skinTrouble breathingYellow skin (jaundice)PreventionSome syndromes that include dextrocardia may run in families. If you have a family history of heterotaxy, talk to your health care provider before becoming pregnant.While there are no known ways to prevent dextrocardia, avoiding the use of illegal drugs (especially cocaine) before and during pregnancy may lower the risk of this problem.Talk to your health care provider if you have diabetes, because it may contribute to your risk of having a child with certain forms of dextrocardia.ReferencesKliegman RM, Behrman RE, Jenson HB, Stanton BF, Zitelli BJ, Davis HW. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: WB Saunders; 2007:chap 431Park MK. Park: Pediatric Cardiology for Practitioners, 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Mosby Elsevier; 2008:chap 16.Reviewed ByReview Date: 04/30/2010Kurt R. Schumacher, MD, Pediatric Cardiology, University of Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, MI. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
What is the largest lymph organ in human body?
The spleen is the largest lymphy node in the human body
What type of meningitis are those with spleen disorders susceptible to?
Patients who have had their spleens removed, or whose spleens are no longer functional (as in the case of patients with sickle cell disease ) are more susceptible to other infections, including meningococcal and pneumococcal meningitis.
What are the symptoms of thrombocytosis?
Enlargement of the spleen is detected in 60% of patients with thrombocytosis. The liver may also be enlarged. As many as half of all patients experience bleeding from the skin, gums, or nose; and 20-50% have some blockage of veins.
What filters lymph and is a reservoir for blood?
The spleen.
How is Situs inversus found?
AnswerSitus InversusDefinitionSitus inversus is a condition in which all organs in your body and abdomen are arranged in a perfect mirror image reversal of the normal positioning.(in some cases the joints in your bones may be arranged on the opposite side as well!)DescriptionNormal human development results in an asymmetrical arrangement of the organs within the chest and abdomen. Typically, the heart lies on the left side of the body (levocardia), the liver and spleen lie on the right, and the lung on the left has two lobes while the lung on the right has three lobes. This normal arrangement is known as situs solitus.However, in about 1 in 8,500 people, the organs of the chest and abdomen are arranged in the exact opposite position: the heart is on the right (dextrocardia), as is the two-lobed lung, and the liver, spleen, and three-lobed lung are on the left. Yet because this arrangement, called situs inversus, is a perfect mirror image, the relationship between the organs is not changed, so functional problems rarely occur.althogh in some cases the heart or lungs may eb turned upside downCauses and symptomsEarly in the normal development of an embryo, the tube-like structure that becomes the heart forms a loop toward the left, identifying the left/right axis along which the other organs should be positioned. Although the mechanism that causes the heart loop to go left is not fully understood, at least one gene has been identified to have a role in this process. However, it is thought that many factors may be involved in causing situs inversus. Rarely, situs inversus can run in families, but most often it is an isolated and accidental event occurring in an individual for the first time in the family.Most people with situs inversus have no medical symptoms or complications resulting from the condition. Although only 3-5% of people with situs inversus have any type of functional heart defect, this is higher than the rate of heart defects in the general population, which is less than 1%.It is estimated that about 25% of people with situs inversus have an underlying condition called primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). PCD, also known as Kartagener's syndrome, is characterized as situs inversus, chronic sinus infections, increased mucous secretions from the lungs, and increased susceptibility to respiratory infections. PCD is caused by a defect in the cilia that impairs their normal movements.DiagnosisSitus inversus should detected by a thorough physical examination. It is often picked up when a physician, using a stethoscope, hears otherwise normal heart sounds on the right side of the body instead of the left. To confirm the a suspected diagnosis of situs inversus, imaging studies such as MRI, CT, or ultrasound may be ordered, and a referral may be made to a cardiologist or internist for completeness. Imaging studies will also rule out the possibility of random arrangement of the organs, or heterotaxy, which has a much higher risk for serious medical complications.TreatmentThere is no treatment for situs inversus. In the unlikely case that a heart defect is present, it should be treated accordingly by a cardiologist.Individuals who have situs inversus should be sure to inform all physicians involved in their medical care. In addition to preventing unnecessary confusion, this will reduce the risk of missing a crucial diagnosis that presents with location-specific symptoms (such as appendicitis).Alternative treatmentNot applicable.PrognosisThe prognosis for an individual with situs inversus is good, and in the absence of a heart defect or other underlying diagnosis, life expectancy is normal.PreventionThere is no known method of preventing situs inversus.Above retrieved from Answers.comViper1
