About ..
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Helping Hearts
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Hypo Plastic Left Heart Syndrome
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Birmingham Childrens Hospital
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Emily Kate Stowe
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
LATEST NEWS
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
RAISED SO FAR £250
its just the beginning
SPENT SO FAR £200
300 items of Premature babyclothing
|
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
What is it?
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a collection of problems on the left side of the heart. The left ventricle (pump) is small and the aorta (the main artery which takes blood to the body) is narrow. This means that no oxygen-filled blood can circulate to the body. While the baby is in the womb, there are extra heart connections - including the ductus arteriosus - that bypass the problems. But a few days after birth these close and the baby becomes breathless and blue and will die.
What are the symptoms?
The baby often seems normal at birth but at some time between the first and third day, the baby collapses, becomes grey and breathless and is unable to feed. Without treatment, most babies with this condition die within the first week of their life. It is possible to diagnose the condition as early as the 18th week of pregnancy, when the usual ultrasound scan is done. However, the condition can also develop later in pregnancy.
Can it be cured?
Unfortunately, there is not an operation to cure this condition. However, most centres now offer a palliative (helping) procedure. This is known as the Norwood procedure and involves three stages. Each stage involves an operation.
- The first stage involves using the pulmonary artery to make the small aorta larger. The right subclavian artery is then attached to a branch of the pulmonary artery. The hole between the right atrium and left atrium is also made larger. This is a complex operation and a heart-lung machine has to be used. The operation carries a significant risk.
- The second stage is carried out when the baby is about 5-6 months old. In this operation, the superior vena cava (the vein that brings blood back from the upper part of the body) is connected to the pulmonary artery.
- The third stage, about a year later, involves an operation to connect the inferior vena cava (the vein that brings blood back from the lower part of the body) to the pulmonary artery. alternative treatment to the three stages above is to do a heart transplantation. Unfortunately, donor organs for this age group are in very short supply.
'Little Hearts Matters' is a UK support group for families with children who have hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Their helpline number is 0121 455 8982.
|
