Heart hump: causes, diagnosis, treatment

At one time, such a pathology, as a heart hump, was quite common. Despite the fact that in the modern world, such cases are rare, many people are interested in additional information about the mechanism and the causes of pathology.

What is a heart hump?

In fact, 300-400 years ago, such a violation would hardly surprise anyone. The heart hump is essentially a deformation of the thorax, in which the sternum and ribs protrude forward, and the scapula and clavicles rise.

Fortunately, modern medicine provides new opportunities for diagnosis and treatment, and therefore such chest deformities are extremely rare (mainly in places with undeveloped / inaccessible medicine or people who for one reason or another do not accept medical care).

How is the hump formed?

Heart hump is the result of congenital or acquired in the early childhood heart defects. The fact is that some diseases cause hypertrophy of the ventricles of the heart. Due to the increase in the mass of the myocardium, the push during the contraction becomes much stronger, which, in fact, causes the sternum to deform.

It is worth noting that a real hump in the chest area can be formed only in early childhood. During this period, the ribs and sternum have not yet passed the period of ossification and consist mainly of elastic cartilaginous tissues, which are much easier to give in to various physical changes and deformations. In adult patients, the chest with hypertrophic heart disease remains practically unchanged.

Convexity in the sternum can be localized in the center, shifted to the left or right depending on changes in the heart muscle. In any case, having noticed such education in the child, it is necessary to immediately call a doctor.

The main causes of chest deformation

As already mentioned, the heart hump testifies to a severe, as a rule, congenital heart disease. This organ during embryonic development is known to form from the aortic trunk. Under the influence of various factors, formation can be disturbed. For example, the interatrial and interventricular septa of the heart is often deformed. Among the common vices of this organ are the open Botallov duct.

Not in all cases it is possible to determine the exact cause of the development of heart diseases, especially when it comes to their congenital forms. There are only a few risk factors. For example, intoxication of the mother's body with alcohol, nicotine and narcotic substances during pregnancy is considered dangerous for the fetus. Anomalies can develop and chronic poisoning of the mother with aggressive chemicals (observed, for example, when working in hazardous production).

To the reasons carry infectious diseases transferred during carrying out of the child, including herpes, a rubella. The lack of proteins and vitamins in the diet of a future mother can lead to an incorrect formation of muscle tissue. In fact, all the risk factors can not be calculated.

What does the diagnostic process look like?

It's no secret that in most cases, the deformation of the chest is associated with injuries or diseases of the musculoskeletal system. That is why it is important to conduct a thorough diagnosis in order to determine the presence of a real heart hump and to establish the cause of its appearance.

If you examine the points of listening to the heart, you can see that the apical impulse in the area of the sixth or seventh hypochondrium is strengthened. Often diseases of the cardiovascular system are accompanied by swelling of the veins of the neck and increased pulsation in the vessels, which can be easily felt through the skin and subcutaneous tissues. It is worth paying attention to the presence of cyanosis - the skin of the face and lips of the child acquires a characteristic bluish tint.

More useful information is given by palpation of the heart. Fingers can be felt "trembling" in the chest area. In addition, a specialist may notice a strong push during systole, as a result of which the chest rises. Palpation of the heart gives the doctor an excuse to suspect the presence of a heart defect in a small patient. Then other important diagnostic measures are carried out, including chest and spine X-ray, ultrasound examination of blood vessels and heart. Blood tests and rheumatic tests are also performed.

Is manifestation of pathology possible in adulthood?

As already mentioned, the heart hump, as a rule, manifests itself in childhood. Nevertheless, some diseases of the cardiovascular system can cause chest deformation even in adults.

For example, some forms of exudative pericarditis are accompanied by protrusion of intercostal spaces. Symptoms of this disease look a little different. For example, in order to examine the points of listening to the heart, the patient must be seated. It can be seen that the apical impulse is significantly weakened. The heart sounds are deaf, and when you look at it you can hear the sounds of friction of the pericardium.

Another reason for chest changes is aortic aneurysm. As a rule, such an ailment develops in adulthood. Sometimes an aneurysm can be seen even with a visual examination - it has a rounded shape, the bone tissue above it atrophies, and the skin acquires a reddish hue. This disease is an indication for surgical intervention.

What methods of treatment does modern medicine offer?

Naturally, to begin with, the cardiologist conducts a complete examination, examines the child's heart area, does the necessary tests, etc. The formation of the hump testifies to the presence of serious heart diseases, which in itself is an indication for an operative intervention.

If surgical treatment is performed in time, the deformation of the chest can still be corrected, then the bones will develop according to the standard scenario. In the event that the hump can not be eliminated by the natural way, a decision is made about the plastic restoration of the normal forms of the sternum and ribs.