LEFT VENTRICULAR EXTENSION INTO THE ABDOMEN

Abstract

A rare developmental anomaly of the heart is described. It consisted of a tube like extension of the left ventricular apex toward the umbilicus superficially under the anterior abdominal wall abutting anterior surface of the liver and contracting synchronously with the myocardium. It is associated with a membranous subaortic ventricular septal defect and a centrally localized heart in the anterior mediastinum (figure 1). Three similar cases were reported in the fifties of the last century. Although there were different associated anomalies with the other three cases but all four cases were similar in the presence of the elongated ventricle in a tube like structure superficially into the abdomen suggesting a similarity in development.
Keywords: Congenital heart disease, Left ventricular extension, Ventricular Septal defect.