# AED use with dextrocardiac patient? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 31, 2023, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335 "2023-10-31T01:11:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Nyvaak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Nyvaak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nyvaak)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335/21 "2023-11-12T08:05:45Z")
> [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](#): > > Doing effective CPR is incredibly tiring One more comment on how exhausting it is to do CPR according to modern guidelines: it’s a lot harder on real people than it is on the mannequins. I’ve often done 5 minutes or more an feedback mannequins that showed my CPR as effective for that whole time. But the last time I did CPR on a real person I _couldn’t wait_ for my 2 minutes to be over. I needed to switch out with another rescuer so badly! It takes a lot more oomph to compress a real person’s chest the needed 2 to 2.5 inches. Also I suspect the mannequins have more springiness and give you a boost on the upstroke. No matter how fit they are, almost nobody goes beyond about 2 minutes without measurable deterioration in the CPR quality. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2023, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335/22 "2023-11-12T18:17:35Z")
There are actually three types of dextrocardia. If the heart is on the right it changes the ideal pad placement. However, that hardly means you would get no benefit from the AED, particularly if it recognizes the rhythm (it likely would, it’s not like it is designed to be used by experts, so is relatively forgiving), calls for an appropriate shock, and raises its intensity if required. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335/23 "2023-11-13T00:00:36Z")
Interestingly, situs inversus is often associated with impaired ciliary function (the [cilia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cilium) being little fingers that jut out of certain cells and push (or waft) mucous or other substances in a certain direction). When the cilia are defective or immotile or dyskinetic, one of the consequences can be situs inversus and/or dextrocardia. This occurs because it is the ‘job’ of cilia _in utero_ to move or push things in the right direction and in the absence of ciliary function, the position of the heart becomes random. So, half the time on the left side, half on the right. The Wiki article on what’s called [Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_ciliary_dyskinesia) actually looks pretty good. This section of the article, [on pathophysiology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Primary_ciliary_dyskinesia#Pathophysiology), addresses the ensuing random positioning of certain organs in the presence of ciliary dysfunction. Although situs inversus/dextrocardia _per se_ leads to no problems, if the body’s cilia are not working properly then mucous is not cleared from the lungs and tends to collect in the bronchi ultimately leading to pneumonia and chronic lung infection (i.e. bronchiectasis). One example is so-called [Kartagener Syndrome](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3056330/). ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335/24 "2023-11-13T00:06:41Z")
And, their sperm are not motile. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 12:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335/25 "2023-11-13T00:13:25Z")
Indeed, and the cilia in the [fallopian tubes of affected women](https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/50/5/1700314) are often unable to propel the ova to toward the uterus with consequent female infertility. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335/26 "2023-11-13T00:28:05Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > My dad (not my biological father, clearly) had Situs Inversus with Dextrocardia. Out of curiosity, why “clearly”? So far as I know, situs inversus shouldn’t interfere with fertility. Regardless, I’m sure his heart was in the right place. ---
**Author:** ![KarlGauss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/karlgauss/32/3713_2.png) [@KarlGauss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KarlGauss)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335/27 "2023-11-13T00:31:08Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > situs inversus shouldn’t interfere with fertility See [here](https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/50/5/1700314). Basically, in men the sperm can’t swim and in women the fallopian tubes don’t move the eggs toward the uterus, in both sexes due to ciliary dysfunction. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2023, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335/28 "2023-11-13T01:37:25Z")
@KarlGauss. I haven’t noticed your physiology posts in quite awhile. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 3:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335/29 "2023-11-15T03:01:38Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > So far as I know, situs inversus shouldn’t interfere with fertility It doesn’t in and of itself, but the most common cause of it makes reproducing much more difficult, as explained above. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2023, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335/30 "2023-11-15T14:47:52Z")
> [@beowulff](#): > > . He wore a bracelet warning of his condition I randomly happened to be walking near an epileptic when he had a fit. He fell to the ground. To be honest I knew the symptoms but I checked his bracelet anyway. I gave him my forearm to grip on, moved him into the recovery position and dissuaded onlookers from trying to prevent him swallowing his tongue, and protected his shopping bags. Sone of us do look at the bracelet. ETA, I am in no way medically trained. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aed-use-with-dextrocardiac-patient/992335.md?page=1)