The National Institute of Health explains that situs inversus is a rare genetic condition in which the internal organs in the chest and the abdomen lie in mirror image of their usual positions in the body. Situs inversus may occur as an isolated occurrence, or as a component of various syndromes. Although some patients with situs inversus have no complications, many complications can arise due to the misplaced positions of the internal organs and viscera.
Infections of the Upper Urinary Tract
According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, situs inversus is sometimes associated with an abnormality of the position of the left ureter as it leaves the kidney. This anomaly is known as a retrocaval ureter, because it lies behind the inferior vena cava, one of the largest vessels in the body. The retrocaval ureter can be easily compressed by the large blood vessel. A compressed ureter causes stasis of urine and this can lead to infection of the upper urinary tract. The patient presents with fever, chills, and left flank pain.
Right-Sided Varicocele
Varicocele describes a dilatation and tortuosity of the scrotal veins. It commonly occurs on the left side because of the position of the veins draining the left testis. A study published in 1978 issue of the "Journal of Fertility and Sterility" described the occurrence of a right-sided varicocele in a patient with situs inversus. Due to the malpositioning and rotation, the vein draining the right testis in situs inversus may drain into the right renal vein instead of the inferior vena cava. This creates backflow and stagnation of the blood, and thus the varicocele forms.
Intestinal Obstruction in The Newborn
An article published in the "Pediatric Surgery International Journal" notes that an abnormality in the positioning of an abdominal vein, called the portal vein, compresses part of the small intestine of the newborn and causes intestinal obstruction. This anomaly, the preduodenal portal vein, is observed in newborns with situs inversus.
References
- Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Factors Predisposing to Bronchiectasis
- National Institutes of Health: Office of Rare Diseases Research: Genetics and Rare diseases Information Center: Situs inversus
- Merck Manuals Online Medical Library: Ureteral anomalies
- Journal of Fertility and Sterility; Right-sided varicocele associated with situs inversus; Sayfan G et, al,: December 1978
- Pediatric Surgery International Journal; Preduodenal Portal Vein and Situs Inversus Abdominalis in Neonates; Johannes L. Koltai et.al.; 1994
