What does "Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome" mean?
Table of Contents
Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) is a serious heart condition present at birth. In this condition, the left side of the heart is not fully formed. Because of this, the heart struggles to pump blood properly, leading to various health issues.
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Newborns with HLHS often show signs of trouble, such as difficulty breathing, poor feeding, and a blue tint to the skin. Doctors use imaging techniques like MRI to look at the heart and check its structure. However, these scans may not show all the details of how blood flows and the overall heart function.
Treatment
To treat HLHS, doctors perform several surgeries that help reconstruct the heart. One common approach is known as the Fontan procedure, which creates a new way for blood to flow through the body. Although many children survive into adulthood, they can face ongoing health challenges related to their heart condition.
Long-term Outlook
Adults with HLHS may have a lower heart output, which can lead to other complications. Research is ongoing to improve how we understand and treat HLHS by combining imaging data with computer models. This can help doctors predict blood flow and other important features of heart function for these patients.
Connection to Brain Development
Recent studies suggest that HLHS may also affect brain development in unborn babies. Changes in how blood flows in the body during pregnancy can impact the growth of the brain, showing that heart health is linked to overall development. Understanding these connections is important for improving care in children born with HLHS.