Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Case Study

Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome has many factors, stages and severities of the disease which could predict an outcome differently for each individual case. However if left untreated HLHS can be fatal. The left side of the heart is unable to supply blood to the rest of the body therefore the right side of the heart has to work harder to compensate for it. The right ventricle can support this circulation but will eventually cause right sided heart failure. Babies have two routes that can help support and carry blood between the left and right ventricles. The foramen ovale which is located between the right and left atrium and the ductus arteriosus which is an opening between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. These connections close on their

Blood to and from the heart is mixed together with no direct flow pattern therefore causing distress. If not recognized early the outcome could be fatal during first year of life. Surgery performed during the first few months of life can result in positive outcomes. A surgical repair in the heart creating flow to and from the heart with the remaining vessel as well as an artificial one consisting of medical tubing (conduit) allows for corrective and successful course of blood. Majority of babies that undergo this type of surgery repair have high survival rates. They will continue to follow a Cardiologist for their lifetime management of the repair. The physician will watch for signs of blood blockage, complications and growth of the artificial tube as it does not grow with the baby and will likely need further surgeries to extend the connection and continue successful blood flow (2). Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and Truncus Arteriosus are congenital heart defects found in babies that can result in fatality if left untreated. However, both of these diseases can potentially be found by fetal ultrasound before birth and therefore treated immediately after birth showing that a deadly heart defect can be successfully treated and