What is Hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a serious congenital heart defect. ⠀⠀⬆️ In this picture we can see that the left ventricle is severely underdeveloped typically accompanied by malfunctioning aortic and mitral valves. ⠀⠀This means that the left ventricle is not capable of pumping an adequate amount of oxygenated blood to keep up with the body’s demands. So the question is how do these infants survive the first few days??⠀⠀👆 Notice that the ductus arteriosis is patent. This allows the right ventricle to pump mixed blood to the aorta and out to the body to keep up with the demand.⠀⠀ The connection between both atriums allows the oxygenated blood to cross over to the right side of the heart thus creating a mixture of oxygenated and deoxygenated blood. ⠀⠀In the first few days of life the foramen ovale and ductus arterosis typically close. However if this happens the right ventricle now has no way to get the blood to the rest of the body. It is crucial that medications are administered to keep these open until surgery can be performed.⠀Learn more:https://drboonlim.co.uk/5-top-tips-to-control-atrial-fibrillation/"