Q24: Other congenital malformations of heart

Q24.0: Dextrocardia

The heart pumps blood through the body. Inside the heart are 4 chambers. There are 2 heart atria and 2 ventricles. Both heart atria and both ventricles are separated from each other by a partition. Normally, the heart is located slightly to the left of center in the chest. The tip of the heart is rounded and points down and to the left.

Your heart is probably slightly to the right of center in the chest. Your heart may also have turned so that its tip is pointing to the right. It may only be the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart that have shifted to the right.

People sometimes have no problems when they have this condition. You may also have other congenital changes to the heart. This causes a failure to grow as normal during childhood. You may also experience shortness of breath, for example.