Hemiacardius is a medical term that refers to a rare congenital heart defect characterized by the incomplete development or absence of one side of the heart. It is classified as a form of monozygotic twinning anomaly, where only one of the twins develops a complete heart while the other twin's heart is either underdeveloped or completely absent.
In cases of hemiacardius, the affected twin usually has a small and hypoplastic heart with structural abnormalities, leading to impaired functioning. The condition is often associated with other congenital anomalies, such as malformations of the gastrointestinal tract, skeletal system, or external genitalia.
Hemiacardius can be further classified into three types based on the specific heart structures that are affected: dextrocardia, levocardia, or mesocardia. Dextrocardia occurs when the right side of the heart is underdeveloped, levocardia refers to the underdevelopment of the left side, and mesocardia involves the incomplete development of both sides of the heart.
Diagnosis of hemiacardius is typically made during pregnancy through prenatal ultrasound or fetal echocardiography. The condition can also be detected after birth when symptoms such as poor feeding, rapid breathing, and bluish skin coloring (cyanosis) are observed.
Treatment options for hemiacardius vary depending on the severity of the condition. Mild cases may not require any specific intervention, while severe cases may necessitate surgical interventions to repair or reconstruct the malformed heart structures.
Overall, hemiacardius is a rare congenital heart defect characterized by a partial or absent development of one side of the heart, which may require medical intervention to improve the affected individual's overall health and quality of life.
