Situs inversus totalis - a case report

Abstract

Situs inversus is a congenital positional anomaly characterized by transposition of abdominal viscera and when associated with right sided heart (Dextrocardia) is referred to as Situs inversus totalis. It is not so uncommon congenital positional anomaly but can be a diagnostic problem at times. The case was detected in the Department of Anatomy, Gauhati Medical College during the routine dissection. Situs inversus was first described by Aristotle in animals and by Fabricius in humans. Its incidence has been reported between 1 in 4000 to 20,000 live births. The exact etiology is unknown but Autosomal recessive and X-linked inheritance have been reported. It can also occur in association with syndromes such as Kartagener syndrome or Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD). Many people with situs inversus totalis are unaware of their unusual anatomy until they seek medical attention for any condition.

Keywords

• dextrocardia
• kartagener syndrome
• primary ciliary dyskinesia