Emergency Live - Pre-Hospital Care, Ambulance Services, Fire Safety and Civil Protection Magazine
The result is therefore that oxygenated blood returning from the lungs via the scimitar vein, instead of entering the left side of the heart and being fed back into the systemic circulation via the aorta, ends up in the right side of the heart, which feeds it back into the pulmonary circulation, with an obvious reduction in the efficiency of the cardiopulmonary system.
It is usually associated with hypoplasia of the right lung, bronchial abnormalities and dextrocardia.
It constitutes a type of partial anomalous pulmonary venous return (RVPAP).
Scimitar syndrome is also called by the following names, all of which are synonyms:
Females appear to be more affected than males.
Scimitar syndrome is a congenital condition, i.e. already present at birth.
Symptoms generally begin in the first few months of life.
The exact causes of scimitar syndrome have not yet been fully clarified.
In some patients, an abnormal gene mapped on chromosome 4q12 has been found.
One of the risk factors could be familiarity.
In the neonatal period, scimitar syndrome presents with congestive heart failure, mostly due to pulmonary hypertension and respiratory distress; the newborn presents with fatigability, dyspnoea, heart failure, lack of appetite, irritability and frequent lung infections.
The diagnosis is suspected on physical examination and confirmed by transesophageal or transthoracic echocardiography, chest X-ray, angiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance angiography.
On objective examination, a systolic murmur from hyperafflux, a diastolic roll from tricuspid stenosis and a splitting of the II tone are auscultated.
The characteristic sign identifiable on chest X-ray, which also gives the disease its name, is a scimitar-shaped lesion (see image below).
In rare cases, scimitar syndrome remains relatively paucisymptomatic in newborns and infants, and in this case it may be diagnosed by chance in older children and adults who undergo a chest X-ray for other reasons. In very rare cases it is never diagnosed in life.
Scimitar syndrome must be differentiated from:
Prenatal diagnosis is possible with echocardiography of the foetus.
On chest X-ray, enlargement of the right ventricle, dilation of the pulmonary artery, pulmonary overflow, scimitar shadow of the abnormal right pulmonary vein along the right side of the heart can be seen.
Variable hypoplasia and malformations of the pulmonary arteries of the right lung and an abnormal arterial supply from the aorta, which may originate above or below the diaphragm, have been observed.
The heart is usually displaced to the right. In rare cases, the disease manifests with a small shunt, a heart murmur and recurrent respiratory infections in children and adults.
About a quarter of patients have a related congenital heart disease (aortic coarctation, tetralogy of Fallot, patent ductus arteriosus, ventricular septal defect).
Bronchogenic cysts, ‘horseshoe’ lung, accessory diaphragm and hernias may be associated.
Therapy depends on the haemodynamic status: when the amount of blood flowing to the inferior vena cava is minimal, therapy may not be applied, however it is convenient for the patient to undergo periodic check-ups.
In cases of left-right shunt and significant pulmonary hypertension, surgical correction should be proposed, which could include correction of the abnormal venous return, ligation of collateral arteries and right pneumonectomy.
Surgical treatment is performed in extracorporeal circulation (ECC).
Surgical treatment is generally carried out at pre-school age, i.e. before the age of 5/6 years.
When the amount of blood flowing to the inferior vena cava is minimal, life expectancy is comparable to that of a healthy individual.
The quality of life in these patients is high, however some sports may be precluded, especially competitive ones.
In severe cases and if diagnosed during childhood, the syndrome is associated with significant mortality.
Emergency Live Even More…Live: Download The New Free App Of Your Newspaper For IOS And Android
Ectopia Cordis: Types, Classification, Causes, Associated Malformations, Prognosis
Defibrillator: What It Is, How It Works, Price, Voltage, Manual And External
The Patient’s ECG: How To Read An Electrocardiogram In A Simple Way
Signs And Symptoms Of Sudden Cardiac Arrest: How To Tell If Someone Needs CPR
Inflammations Of The Heart: Myocarditis, Infective Endocarditis And Pericarditis
Quickly Finding – And Treating – The Cause Of A Stroke May Prevent More: New Guidelines
Atrial Fibrillation: Symptoms To Watch Out For
Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome: What It Is And How To Treat It
Do You Have Episodes Of Sudden Tachycardia? You May Suffer From Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW)
Transient Tachypnoea Of The Newborn: Overview Of Neonatal Wet Lung Syndrome
Tachycardia: Is There A Risk Of Arrhythmia? What Differences Exist Between The Two?
Bacterial Endocarditis: Prophylaxis In Children And Adults
Erectile Dysfunction And Cardiovascular Problems: What Is The Link?
Early Management Of Patients With Acute Ischemic Stroke Regarding Endovascular Treatment, Updating In AHA 2015 Guidelines
Ischaemic Heart Disease: What It Is, How To Prevent It And How To Treat It
Ischaemic Heart Disease: Chronic, Definition, Symptoms, Consequences
Malnutrition 'by excess' or overnutrition: obesity and overweight increasing health problems for our children
Oxygen cylinders: functions, types, selection criteria
Swimmer's otitis, how can it be prevented?
The Quick and Dirty Guide to Cor Pulmonale
Web addiction: what is meant by Problematic Internet Use or Internet Addiction…
Chlamydia: what are the symptoms and how to treat it
In China, the Covid lockdown is back. Lockdown alarm also affects the economy
WHO issues global poliomyelitis alert: 'Vaccinate against polio as soon as…
Lancet: 'Anti-inflammatories reduce Covid admissions by 90%'
Genoa, Italy's first case of Australian flu: virus discovered in a young man who…
Covid-19, Cuban drug Nimotuzumab granted Health Registration in Indonesia
FG MICRO H2O2: Focaccia Group launches the new system for the disinfection of…
Fires: 'Firehound Zero', Italy's first solar drone for hunting fires, arrives
Rescue and broadband: successful final tests for the pilot phase of the Horizon…
Start of the CAA Congress: main topics ambulance and emergency
From 11th to 13th August, the CAA Congress 2022 returns to Sydney
Emergency Live is the only multilingual magazine dedicated to people involved in rescue and emergency. As such, it is the ideal medium in terms of speed and cost for trading companies to reach large numbers of target users; for example, all companies involved in some way in the equipping of specialised means of transport. From vehicle manufacturers to companies involved in equipping those vehicles, to any supplier of life- saving and rescue equipment and aids.
Emergency Live Piazzale Badalocchio 9/b, 43126 Parma (PR) – Italy Phone: +39 340 2246247 VAT Number: IT02277610347 Write us: go to the form mail
This website is not intended for the purpose of providing medical advice. All information, content, and material is for information and educational purposes and are not intended to serve as a substitute for the consultation, diagnosis, and/or medical treatment of a qualified physician or healthcare provider. All the contents inside this website are addressed to EMS, Rescue and Medical professionals. All the information in the following pages are focused on the health sector, medical devices, pharmaceutical products or products inside these categories, and they request the use of a professional of the health sector.