Ectopia Cordis Sternal Cleft Repair With Mandibular Distractors: A Follow-Up Case Report. Issue 1 (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bharadwaj, Sandeep; Vicari, Frank A.; Backer, Carl L.; Eltayeb, Osama
• Is Part Of: World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery. Volume 13:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 94
• Page End: 96
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Pediatric cardiology -- Periodicals; Congenital heart disease in children -- Periodicals; Heart -- Abnormalities -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Heart -- Surgery -- Periodicals; Heart Defects, Congenital -- surgery -- Periodicals; Cardiac Surgical Procedures -- Periodicals; Child -- Periodicals; Adult -- Periodicals; 618.9212
• DOI: 10.1177/2150135120978951
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2150-1351

Abstract

A neonate with thoracic ectopia cordis presented following an uncomplicated delivery. A mandibular distractor was placed to bridge the sternal cleft and retracted (reverse distractor activation) over 24 days to facilitate sternal closure. Follow-up at five years postoperatively demonstrated a well-healed sternum. This novel approach to ectopia cordis repair facilitates slow, steady physiologic accommodation of the heart without hemodynamic instability or long-term complications.