Primary closure of thoraco-abdominal ectopia cordis

Abstract

Thoraco-abdominal ectopia cordis is an unusual congenital anomaly. The case of a 45-days-old female child, who presented with a defect in the chest and upper abdomen and visible cardiac pulsations and bulge during crying, is being reported. There was an inferior sternal cleft with divarication of the recti up to the umbilicus. The cleft was covered with a thin translucent membrane. Primary repair was accomplished successfully without causing mediastinal compression.

Keywords

• Divarication of recti
• primary closure
• sternal cleft
• thoraco-abdominal ectopia cordis