ECTOCARDIA Meaning and
Definition
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Ectocardia is a medical term that refers to a rare congenital abnormality involving the heart. This condition is characterized by the displacement or malpositioning of the heart outside the chest cavity. In individuals with ectocardia, the heart is located partly or completely outside the thoracic cavity, usually protruding through a defect in the chest wall.
Ectocardia is considered a severe and complex cardiac anomaly, often associated with multiple other congenital abnormalities affecting different organ systems. It may be accompanied by defects in the chest wall and sternum, as well as abnormalities in the lungs, diaphragm, and other nearby structures. Furthermore, additional cardiac malformations, such as ventricular septal defects, atrial septal defects, or abnormalities of the heart valves, may be present in individuals with ectocardia.
The exact cause of ectocardia is unknown, but it is believed to arise from disturbances during fetal development, likely occurring during the first trimester of pregnancy. The rarity of this condition makes it challenging to gather extensive data regarding its pathogenesis and prevalence.
Due to the complexity and associated anomalies, ectocardia requires prompt medical attention and individualized treatment approaches. Treatment options may include surgical interventions aimed at correcting the heart's position and addressing any associated defects or abnormalities. The prognosis for individuals with ectocardia varies depending on the severity of the condition, the presence of other associated abnormalities, and timely medical intervention.
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Cougenital misplacement of the heart.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
Common Misspellings for ECTOCARDIA
- wctocardia
- sctocardia
- dctocardia
- rctocardia
- 4ctocardia
- 3ctocardia
- extocardia
- evtocardia
- eftocardia
- edtocardia
- ecrocardia
- ecfocardia
- ecgocardia
- ecyocardia
- ec6ocardia
- ec5ocardia
- ecticardia
- ectkcardia
- ectlcardia
- ectpcardia
Etymology of ECTOCARDIA
The word ectocardia is a medical term that refers to a condition where the heart is located outside of the chest cavity. The term is derived from two Greek roots: ecto meaning outside and kardia meaning heart.
Similar spelling word for ECTOCARDIA
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