Without medicines and a series of three surgeries to rebuild the heart, babies with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) won't survive. The left side of the heart can't be fixed, so the goal of the surgeries is to rebuild parts of the heart and "redirect" the way blood flows.
The first surgery is called the Norwood procedure. It’s usually done when a baby is around 1–2 weeks old.
The Norwood procedure is a type of open-heart surgery. The goals are to:
The main steps of the Norwood procedure are:
Because the bottom of the pulmonary artery is used to make the new aorta, a new path from the heart to the lungs has to be built by:
The shunt is a temporary fix. It helps the baby get blood to the lungs until the next surgery, which creates a more permanent solution.
Babies who have the Norwood procedure usually spend 3 to 4 weeks in the hospital to recover. They get-around-the-clock care and monitoring. They also get medicines to help the heart and improve blood flow.
During this time, the care team teaches parents how to care for their baby at home. Babies usually can go home when they are feeding well, growing well, and gaining weight.
At home, the baby needs to be watched closely. Parents will be in close contact with the care team, and should keep an eye on:
Parents should call the care team right away if their baby:
The second surgery is called the Glenn procedure. It's usually done when a baby is 4 to 6 months old.
Reviewed by: Michael A. Bingler, MD
Date Reviewed: 05-11-2018