Colloquially "heart outside the chest." This young girl has the Pentalogy of Cantrell:
- Omphalocele
- Anterior diaphragmatic hernia
- Sternal cleft with or without ectopia cordis
- Diaphragmatic pericardium defects (no diaphragmatic pericardium)
- Intracardiac defect: ventricular septal defect, diverticulum of the left ventricle, Tetralogy of Fallot
Fascinating and terrible at the same time. Fascinating to watch her heart beat, to watch the distention when she coughs, and to see that she can and does live with this birth defect. Terrible to know how fragile her life is, how easily she could be fatally injured by a blow to her chest or abdomen, and how full of life she is, wanting to run and be active but aware that she must be careful. Such a sweet little girl.
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