Complex congenital cardiac anomalies in the setting of right isomerism in a 31-month-old infant: a case report

BACKGROUND: Congenital cardiac defects are not rare among neonates. Prompt assessment for life-threatening anomalies is essential for rapid management decisions and positive outcomes. Extracardiac anomalies can occur in congenital heart defects, and their presence increases morbidity and mortality in these neonates. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 31- month-old infant black girl in Tanzania who presented with an on-and-off history of difficulty in breathing, easy fatigability, facial and lower-limb swelling, recurrent respiratory tract infections, and failure to thrive. CONCLUSIONS: Management of patients with heterotaxy syndrome is complex and largely depends on specific anatomy of both cardiac and noncardiac lesions. Cardiac and noncardiac management must be tailored to individual anatomy, including prophylaxis against encapsulated organisms for asplenic patients.