Department of Emergency Medicine

UMEM Educational Pearls

Category: Cardiology

Title: Dextrocardia

Posted: 6/2/2013 by Semhar Tewelde, MD (Updated: 4/24/2024)
Click here to contact Semhar Tewelde, MD

 

  • Mirror-image dextrocardia is the most common form of cardiac malposition and is commonly associated with situs inversus of the abdominal organs
  • The anatomic right ventricle is anterior to the left ventricle and the aortic arch curves to the right and posteriorly
  • 25% percent of these patients will have associated sinusitis and bronchiactasis (Kartagener’s syndrome)
  • ECG changes associated with dextrocardia include:
  1. Right-axis deviation
  2. Global negativity in leads I and aVL (negative QRS w/inverted P and T waves)
  3. Lead aVR similar to the normal aVL (positive QRS)
  4. Absent R wave progression in precordial leads/dominant S waves

References

 

Al-Khadra A. Mirror-Image Dextrocardia With Situs Inversus. Circulation. 1995; 91: 1602-1603
 
 
 
 

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