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hypoplastic left heart syndrome

pathology

Quick Summary

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a serious congenital heart defect where the left side of the heart, including the left ventricle and aorta, is underdeveloped. This severe underdevelopment significantly compromises the body's blood flow. Infants born with HLHS typically survive only a few days without intervention. In some cases, only one heart chamber develops adequately, and survival depends on compensatory abnormalities like a persistent ductus arteriosus or a septal defect. HLHS is a cyanotic type of congenital heart disease, meaning it can lead to a bluish discoloration of the skin due to a lack of oxygenated blood.12

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