Overview

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a rare heart defect present at birth (congenital). In this condition, the left side of the heart is extremely underdeveloped.

If a baby is born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the left side of the heart can't pump blood well. Instead, the right side of the heart must pump blood to the lungs and to the rest of the body.

Treatment of hypoplastic left heart syndrome requires medication to prevent closure of the connection (ductus arteriosus) between the right and left sides of the heart. Plus, either surgery or a heart transplant is necessary. Advances in care have improved the outlook for babies born with this condition.

Symptoms

Babies born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome usually are seriously ill soon after birth. Symptoms include:

  • Grayish-blue color of the lips and gums (cyanosis)
  • Rapid, difficult breathing
  • Poor feeding
  • Cold hands and feet
  • Weak pulse
  • Being unusually drowsy or inactive

If the natural connections between the heart's left and right sides (foramen ovale and ductus arteriosus) are allowed to close in the first few days of life in babies with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, they can go into shock and possibly die.

Signs of shock include:

  • Cool, clammy skin that can be pale or lips that can be bluish-gray
  • A weak and rapid pulse
  • Breathing that may be slow and shallow or very rapid
  • Dull eyes that seem to stare

A baby in shock might be conscious or unconscious.

When to see a doctor

Most babies with hypoplastic left heart syndrome are diagnosed either before birth or soon after. However, seek medical help if you notice that your baby has any of the symptoms of the condition.

If you think that your baby is in shock, immediately call 911 or your local emergency number.

Causes

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome occurs in the womb when a baby's heart is developing. The cause is unknown. However, having one child with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, increases the risk of having another with a similar condition.

The heart has four chambers, two on the right and two on the left. In doing its basic job — pumping blood through the body — the heart uses its left and right sides for different tasks.

The right side moves blood to the lungs. In the lungs, oxygen enriches the blood, which then moves to the heart's left side. The left side of the heart pumps blood into a large vessel called the aorta, which sends the oxygen-rich blood to the rest of the body.

What happens in hypoplastic left heart syndrome

In hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the left side of the heart can't properly supply blood to the body. That's because the lower left chamber (left ventricle) is too small or isn't there. Also, the valves on the left side of the heart (aortic valve and mitral valve) don't work properly, and the main artery leaving the heart (aorta) is smaller than usual.

After birth, the right side of a baby's heart can pump blood both to the lungs and to the rest of the body through a blood vessel that connects the pulmonary artery directly to the aorta (ductus arteriosus). The oxygen-rich blood returns to the right side of the heart through a natural opening (foramen ovale) between the right chambers of the heart.

When the ductus arteriosus and the foramen ovale close — which they usually do after the first day or two of life — the right side of the heart has no way to pump blood to the body. Babies with hypoplastic left heart syndrome need medication to keep these connections open and keep blood flowing to the body until they have heart surgery.

Risk factors

People who have a child with hypoplastic left heart syndrome have a higher risk of having another baby with this or a similar condition.

There are no other clear risk factors for hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Complications

With proper treatment, many babies with hypoplastic left heart syndrome survive. But most have complications later, which may include:

  • Tiring easily during sports or other exercise
  • Heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias)
  • Fluid buildup in the lungs, abdomen, legs and feet (edema)
  • Not growing well
  • Developing blood clots that may lead to a pulmonary embolism or stroke
  • Developmental problems related to the brain and nervous system
  • Need for additional heart surgery or a heart transplant

Prevention

There's no way to prevent hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Before getting pregnant, people with a family history of heart defects or who have a child with a congenital heart defect might want to meet with a genetic counselor and a cardiologist who treats congenital heart defects.