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HLHS Information

What is Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)?
HLHS is a Congenital Heart Defect where the left side of the heart has failed to develop properly. There are varying degrees of malformation in the Hypoplastic Left Heart.

The left ventricle is usually very small or non-existent. The aortic valve may be narrowed or closed and the aorta itself may also be very small. The left atrium is sometimes small and the mitral valve between the left atrium and left ventricle can also be narrowed or closed.

These defects put extra work on the right side of the heart, so chambers and blood vessels on this side may be enlarged or stretched larger than normal.

Please visit the sites below to find out more about HLHS.

	Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne
	Brief description of HLHS and Surgeries This link forwards you to the RCH 'Heart Defects' Heart Defects: Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Fact Sheet on Hypoplatic Left Heart Syndrome Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Description, Pre-operative & Surgical Management (March 2001) HLHS Handout (Dec 2001) Booklet for Parents Cardiology Department FAQs

	Hospitals - Overseas
	Chicago Children's Hospital HLHS - What is it? Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Cardiac Anomalies: HLHS Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Centre Cardiovascular Disorders: HLHS Lucile Packard Children's Hospital CHDs Defined: Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Nemours Cardiac Centre Parent/Patient Information: HLHS Riley Hospital for Children What is Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome? Rush University Medical Centre (Chicago) Congenital Heart Defects: HLHS The Children's Heart Institute Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome The Heart Institute for Children What Is Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome? University of Michigan Cardiovascular Centre Hypoplastic Left Hearts Syndrome University of Singapore: Faculty of Medicine Heart Education - HLHS Winnipeg Children's Hospital

	Other Online Information
	Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome American Heart Association Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome Blog A collection of links which address different aspects of HLHS and other forms of congenital heart disease. Descriptions of CHDs - HLHS Congenital Heart Defects.com  Dr Mani - Hypoplastic Left Heart Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome eMedicine Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome: Summary HeartCentre Online Medscape Health Information Encyclopaedia: HLHS Pediatrix Medical Group

	Medical and Other Journals
	The Lancet Elsevier PubMed

HLHS is considered to be one of the more severe CHDs. Although there is no cure for HLHS, advances in paediatric cardiology and surgeries mean that more children are being given a chance at life.

Approximately 80% of the babies that undergo the palliative surgeries survive, however the long term outlook for these children is unknown. Treatment of HLHS was pioneered in the early 1980's so there are very few adult HLHS survivors.

INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF DISEASES

746.7
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome - Atresia, or marked hypoplasia, of aortic orifice or valve, with hypoplasia of
ascending aorta and defective development of left ventricle with mitral valve atresia.