Which disorder/defect/syndrome causes the heart to be formed in two separate halves?

Question

A friend's grandchild has been born this morning with this condition. He was not expected to survive the birth but has so far.

For various reasons, not the least of which is emotional, my friend has not been able to find out or share much information, other than:
- the baby's heart being formed as two separate halves (this was known prior to birth as it was seen on the ultrasound);
- it also affects his stomach, but I don't know in what way;
- it may also affect other organs.

Does anyone know the name of this condition?

Aleckii - Thanks for your response... I don't know what I mean! The info I have is that one heart is in two unjoined halves. This may or may not be a misunderstanding on my friend's behalf.

Today is day 2 and little "K" is still going.

Answer 1

As a medical student, my prayers go out to your friend's family. But I must admit it strikes me as an interesting case. I have witnessed some cardiac pathologies in the last few years, and the suffering and pain it caused the families. Until now, I haven't heard of 2 hearts being formed in 2 seperate halves. You can try to check any of the diseases from these sites:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congenital_heart_defect

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ICD-10_Chapter_XVII:_Congenital_malformations%2C_deformations_and_chromosomal_abnormalities#.28Q20-Q28.29_circulatory_system

Could you tell me if you found out though?

Wait... I just remembered something. Congenital heart block doesn't LITERALLY means two heart developing as seperate halves, but it means a condition where the upper and lower halves of the heart contract not in unison. They have seperate pacemakers and therefore work at different pace/rythm. Maybe this was what you meant?