At one time, such a pathology as a cardiac hump was a fairly common occurrence. Despite the fact that in the modern world such cases are rare, many people are interested in additional information about the mechanism and causes of the formation of pathology.
What is the heart hump?
In fact, as early as 300-400 years ago, such a violation would hardly have surprised anyone. The heart hump is essentially a deformation of the chest, in which the sternum and ribs bulge forward, and the shoulder blades and collarbones 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 in people who, for one reason or another, do not accept medical care).
How is the hump formed?
The cardiac hump is a consequence of congenital or acquired in early childhood heart defects. The fact is that some diseases cause hypertrophy of the ventricles of the heart. Due to the increase in myocardial mass, the push during contraction becomes much stronger, which, in fact, causes deformation of the sternum.
It is worth noting that a real hump in the chest can only form in early childhood. During this period, the ribs and sternum have not yet passed the period of ossification and consist mainly of elastic cartilage tissues, which are much easier to undergo various physical changes and deformations. In adult patients, the chest cell with hypertrophic heart diseases practically does not change.
The bulge 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 a similar formation in a child, it is worth urgently consult a doctor.
The main causes of chest deformation
As already mentioned, the cardiac hump indicates a severe, usually congenital heart disease. This organ during embryonic development, as you know, is formed from the aortic trunk. Under the influence of certain factors, the formation may be disrupted. For example, the atrial and interventricular septum of the heart is quite often deformed. Among the common defects of this body include 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. Only a few risk factors can be identified. For example, intoxication of the mother’s body with alcohol, nicotine and narcotic substances during pregnancy is considered dangerous for the fetus. Anomalies can also develop during chronic poisoning of the mother with aggressive chemicals (observed, for example, when working in hazardous industries).
The causes include infectious diseases transferred during child bearing, including herpes, rubella. The lack of proteins and vitamins in the diet of the expectant mother can lead to improper formation of muscle tissue. In fact, all risk factors are simply impossible to calculate.
What does the diagnostic process look like?
It's no secret that in most cases, chest deformation 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 cardiac hump and establish the cause of its appearance.
If you examine the point of listening to the heart, you can see that the apical impulse in 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.
Palpation of the heart provides more useful information. You can feel “trembling” in the chest area with your fingers. In addition, the specialist may notice a strong jolt during systole, as a result of which the rib cage rises. Palpation of the heart gives the doctor a reason to suspect the presence of heart disease in a small patient. Further, other important diagnostic measures are carried out, including chest and spine radiography, 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 usually manifests itself in childhood. Nevertheless, some diseases of the cardiovascular system can cause chest deformity even in adults.
For example, some forms of exudative pericarditis are accompanied by protrusion of the intercostal spaces. Symptoms of this disease look a little different. For example, in order to examine the point of listening to the heart, the patient must be seated. You may notice that the apical impulse is significantly weakened. Heart sounds are deaf, and upon examination, you can hear the sounds of friction of the pericardium.
Another cause of chest changes is aortic aneurysm. As a rule, a similar ailment develops in adulthood. Sometimes aneurysm can be noticed even with a visual examination - it has a rounded shape, the bone tissue atrophies above it, and the skin acquires a reddish tint. This disease is an indication for surgery.
What treatment methods does modern medicine offer?
Naturally, to begin with, a cardiologist conducts a full examination, examines the area of the child’s heart, does the necessary tests, etc. The formation of a hump indicates the presence of serious heart diseases, which in itself is an indication for surgical intervention.
If surgical treatment is done in time, then chest deformity can still be corrected, then the bones will develop according to the standard scenario. In the event that the hump cannot be naturally eliminated, a decision is made on the plastic restoration of the normal forms of the sternum and ribs.