HYPOPLASTIC LEFT HEART SYNDROME

Management

In a manner similar to other heart diseases, hypoplastic left heart syndrome presents health care practitioners with a delicate situation to handle. Numerous tests are carried out in order to determine whether the child is actually presenting with this disorder. Upon diagnosis with this disorder, the baby is immediately admitted to neonatal intensive care unit. Life support gadgets such as the breathing machine are used in order to make it easy for the baby to breathe. Medications such as prostaglandins are also made use of to maintain the ductus arteriosus in an open status (Anderson, Pozzi & Hutchinson, 2004). Surgery is, however, pertinent since these measures do not offer a lasting solution. Norwood operation, which is carried out within the first few weeks of life, is a procedure aimed at reconstructing the aorta using blood vessels from other parts of the body. A second operation is carried out to connect major vessels from the heart to the lungs (Hennein, Edward & Bove, 2002). The final operation, also referred to as the Fotan procedure, is carried out after about three years for purposes of connecting vessels carrying blue blood from the body to the lungs for oxygenation. In extreme cases transplantation may be carried out. Even though transplantation is the best management strategy, the main challenge associated with it is that donor organs are extremely scarce.

Conclusion

It can therefore be concluded that even though a rare condition, hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a severe heart disorder that predisposes patients to a high risk of death. Patients presenting with this disorder, which is characterized by underdevelopment of the left region of the heart, present with symptoms such as cyanosis, increased breathing rate and pounding heart among others. Even though medications such as prostaglandins may be used to enhance supply of blood to the left side of the hearth through the ductus arteriosus, surgery remains the most effective treatment strategy.