ORGANS TRANSPOSED

Southland Times, Issue 19293, 11 July 1924, Page 7

ORGANS TRANSPOSED

REMARKABLE MEDICAL DISCOVERY. CASE OF A CHRISTCHURCH BOY. A remarkable discovery was made in Christchurch Hospital when an X-ray examination of the chest of a six-year-old boy was being made. On screening the lad it was found that the heart was on the right side, instead of in its normal position on the left. During the proceedings (says the Sun) Dr. T. Sewell, acting-radiologist at Christchurch Hospital, thought he saw the gas bubble of the stomach, which is norihally seen below the left diaphragm, appear on the right. To verify this, the boy was given a barium swallow, and this was seen to pass into the stomach on the right side. A barium swallow is always given in order to diagnose stomach and intestinal trouble, as it is impervious to the X-ray. Later the lad was given a full meal, and a radiogram taken afterwards showed the heart and stomach on the opposite side to where they should be normally. The right lobe of the liver is also on its opposite side, so that practically the whole of the boy’s intestinal organs are reversed. Dr. Sewell has been doing X-ray work for twelve years, but he states that previously he has never seen the abdominal organs turned about. Frequently the heart is found to be out of place, but not the other parts. Dr. P. Stanley Foster said that he has seen one or two cases of complete transposition. Two or_three years ago there was such a patient at Christchurch Hospital, and one also was found at Dunedin. Occasionally, when operating for appendicitis, the appendix has been found on its wrong side. Dr. H. T. Ackland was of opinion that there may be half a dozen cases of complete transposition in New Zealand. The lad is exceptionally healthy and strong, and all his organs are perfectly normal, except for their transposition.