Heart of the Syndrome

The Hobart Mercury

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) means the left side of the newborn’s heart did not develop normally, preventing blood being pumped properly around the body. Until now, there were four options for parents with babies suffering from HLHS: termination of the pregnancy, compassionate care, transplantation or the three-stage Norwood procedure. The 23-year-old Norwood procedure is only performed at Melbourne’s Royal Children’s Hospital and babies must satisfy certain physical requirements. Phelicity was too small.