Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Early Diagnosis and Expert Care for HLHS

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a rare but serious congenital (present at birth) heart defect where the left side of the heart doesn’t develop properly. As a result, it’s smaller and weaker, so the right side of the heart must work extra hard to pump blood to the lungs and the rest of the body. Since HLHS happens while a baby is growing in the womb, it’s often diagnosed during prenatal tests.

At Nemours, we offer leading-edge capabilities to detect heart problems early, including babies still in the womb — giving children the best chance. If your child is diagnosed with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, you can trust the pediatric heart care in our Nemours Cardiac Center. Our board-certified, fellowship-trained pediatric cardiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons (specialists in surgical procedures of the chest, including the heart and lungs) are here to answer your questions, address your concerns, and offer treatment options, including hypoplastic left heart syndrome surgery. Our cardiac teams offer the latest in research-backed care, delivered with compassion.

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Services We Offer for HLHS

The expert teams in our Nemours Cardiac Center locations offer a full range of pediatric heart care to diagnose and treat hypoplastic left heart syndrome. Services vary by specialist and location, but may include:

Fetal Diagnostics. Early detection in our perinatology and fetal medicine centers help us diagnose congenital heart defects and make a treatment plan for when your baby’s born.
Cardiac Diagnostic Testing. State-of-the-art, noninvasive and minimally invasive tests for kids of all ages.
Cardiology. Medicines are used to help manage oxygen and blood flow.
Cardiac Catheterization. Most babies with HLHS are also born with an atrial septal defect (or “ASD”), but it might be repaired using a catheter (thin, flexible tube) to help relieve symptoms.
Heart Surgery. Surgical repair for hypoplastic left heart syndrome will be done in a series that includes the Norwood, Glenn and Fontan procedures.

Why Choose Us for HLHS Repair & Care

Our Nemours Cardiac Center team has the experience to provide accurate, efficient diagnosis and treatment of hypoplastic left heart in children. World-class heart care requires the compassion to understand your family's journey, and the expertise to heal even the most complex conditions. Our cardiac surgeons treat a vast array of heart defects in infants, children and teens, using the most innovative, up-to-date approaches. Our specialty is the early detection and repair of heart problems, so your child will have the best possible chance for a healthy future.

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Regional HLHS Highlights

Services, programs, facilities and care teams differ at each location. Call for details.

Delaware Valley/Greater Philadelphia

Ranked in top children's hospitals for cardiac care.

We offer care for newborns and children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome at Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children (Wilmington, Del.) and select Nemours duPont Pediatrics locations.

The Nemours Cardiac Center located at duPont Hospital for Children is ranked among the best children’s hospitals in the nation for pediatric cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News and World Report.

Our Palliative and Supportive Care Program located at duPont Hospital for Children in Delaware provides compassionate care for families and children coping with life-threatening or life-limiting conditions.

Central Florida

We offer care for newborns and children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome at Nemours Children’s Hospital (Orlando) and select Nemours Children’s Specialty Care locations.

Our renowned pediatric cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery team at the Nemours Cardiac Center in Central Florida offers inpatient, critical and surgical care at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Orlando — including dedicated cardiac anesthesiologists and state-of-the-art cardiac intensive care unit (CICU).

They also have a dedicated program that offers skilled management of single-ventricle defects like hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). And since early detection means faster treatment, our Nemours Center for Fetal Care is available at multiple locations throughout Central Florida.

Northwest Florida

We offer care for newborns and children with hypoplastic left heart syndrome at Nemours Children’s Specialty Care, Pensacola and our hospital affiliate, West Florida Healthcare, with outpatient and follow-up appointments also available at select Nemours Children’s Specialty Care locations.

Our Nemours Cardiac Center in Pensacola is home to one of the few accredited pediatric transthoracic and fetal echocardiography labs in Florida and, if needed, can facilitate the transfer of extremely ill children between our Nemours Cardiac Center locations (e.g., to Nemours Children’s Hospital).