Understanding Situs Inversus: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

What is it?

Situs inversus is a rare condition in which the chest and abdomen’s organs are positioned in a mirror image from their normal positions. Situs inversus is caused by a genetic condition, an autosomal recessive genetic condition. It is divided into three subtypes:
*Dextrocardia- if the point of the heart is to the right side
*Levocardia- when the heart is on the left side but the other organs are flipped.
*Situs ambiguous- when several organs are in abnormal positions, but not in a well defined pattern.

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Additional names

This group contains additional names:
- Complete situs inversus with dextrocardia
- Situs inversus viscerum
- Kartagener's Syndrome

Signs & symptoms

Situs inversus might not present any symptoms at all. It may cause cardiac dysfunction, primary ciliary dyskinesia, bronchitis, and sinusitis.

Diagnosis

Situs inversus is diagnosed by an imaging test such as X-ray, MRI, CT and ultrasonography. Many asymptomatic people don't even know they have it, and may find out accidently on a random medical examination.

Treatment

Usually, there is no need to treat situs inversus. If it causes a heart defect, the symptoms may be treated. Surgery is not recommended.

☝️ This is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision.

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Source of Information - We analyze big data of more than 23 million patients de-identified medical records from the following sources:

National Institution of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ University of Illinois hospital