Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Symptoms

Initially, a newborn with hypoplastic left heart syndrome may appear normal. Symptoms usually occur in the first few hours of life, although it may take up to a few days to develop symptoms.

In healthy newborns, bluish color occurs in hands and feet as a response to cold (this reaction is called peripheral cyanosis). However, a bluish color observed in the chest or abdomen, lips, and tongue is abnormal because it indicates a lack of adequate levels of oxygen in the blood. The bluish color often increases with crying.

Other symptoms may include:

• Drowsiness
• Poor suckling and feeding
• Shortness of breath
• Rapid breathing
• Cold arms and legs
• Enlarged liver
• Weak pulse
• Pounding heart
• Sudden death