Treatment depends on the severity of intracardiac malformations and the presence of associated abnormalities. Most infants are stillborn or die within days of life.
Surgery is available for an infants who are healthy enough to survive, but will be very complicated and risky. After a successful first-stage operation to provide coverage of the heart (covering of the naked heart and abdominal contents with silastic prosthesis) the further operations aim to repair the intracardiac defect, orthotopic heart transplantation and to reconstruct the chest wall.
Therapeutic abortion or pregnancy termination is always being considered for the parents. As a result of the disease’s very poor prognosis a pregnancy termination is recommended.
There is limited treatment options due to the uncommonness of the condition and the very high mortality rate.
Surgery is available for an infants who are healthy enough to survive, but will be very complicated and risky. After a successful first-stage operation to provide coverage of the heart (covering of the naked heart and abdominal contents with silastic prosthesis) the further operations aim to repair the intracardiac defect, orthotopic heart transplantation and to reconstruct the chest wall.
Therapeutic abortion or pregnancy termination is always being considered for the parents. As a result of the disease’s very poor prognosis a pregnancy termination is recommended.
There is limited treatment options due to the uncommonness of the condition and the very high mortality rate.
Technology
Ultrasounds are a form of technology used to detect Ectopia cordis. An ultrasound is a device that uses high frequency sound waves to create an image of some part of the inside of the body. When mothers get an ultrasound of their baby, doctors can identify abnormalities from the images.
As technology advances many new materials are used to shield the heart of an infant with Ectopia cordis, like silastic prosthesis.
As technology advances many new materials are used to shield the heart of an infant with Ectopia cordis, like silastic prosthesis.