In this video, experts from the Cardiac Center at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia explain the structure of a heart with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS).
Transcript
Structure of a Heart with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
Basically, hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a situation where there is an underdeveloped left ventricle.
That's usually the pumping chamber that pumps blood from the heart to the rest of the body.
It can involve the mitral valve, which is the valve entering the left ventricle. It can involve the left ventricle itself, and it can involve the aorta, which is the artery leaving the left side of the heart to the body.
The aorta, which carries blood to the body, is frequently very small and blocked.
The ultimate problem here is that the left ventricle cannot support the circulation.
So without a left side that's big enough, it's not strong enough to provide blood flow to the body.
Topics Covered: Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
Related Centers and Programs: Cardiac Center