What happens if you are born with half a heart?
If a baby is born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the left side of the heart can't pump blood well. Instead, the right side of the heart must pump blood to the lungs and to the rest of the body.
How many people are born with half a heart?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that each year about 1,025 babies in the United States are born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome. In other words, about 1 out of every 3,841 babies born in the United States each year is born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
What is the life expectancy of someone with HLHS?
Most infants die within the first two weeks of life, with an average age at death of 4.5 days (31,33,34). Some patients with HLHS, however, can survive beyond sixty days, without any surgical intervention through the development of pulmonary hypertension (8,33).
Who is the oldest person living with HLHS?
“Thankfully, this isn't the case for Leigh Ann and hopefully won't be a consideration until much farther down the road.” The oldest living person with HLHS is their 30s. Ultimately, the Cribbs hope and pray that Leigh Ann has a long life ahead of her.
Can you live a normal life with HLHS?
After treatment, children with HLHS can go on to live relatively normal lives. Our Wellness Program supports families and helps navigate the challenges of life with a congenital heart condition through clinic visits, and events and activities.
What causes a baby to be born with half a heart?
It is caused by abnormal formation of the heart during growth in the womb. In most cases, when a baby is born with a congenital heart defect, there is no known reason for it. Some types of congenital heart defects can be linked to an abnormality in the number of a baby's chromosomes.
How do you fix HLHS?
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is treated through several surgical procedures or a heart transplant. Your child's health care provider will discuss treatment options with you. If the diagnosis is made before birth, care providers usually recommend delivery at a hospital with a cardiac surgery center.
Can HLHS patients have children?
Conclusions: These cases, the first reported successful pregnancies in mothers with HLHS, highlight the challenges of pregnancy among women with complex congenital heart disease in general and raise several considerations specific to HLHS.
What are the 3 surgeries for hypoplastic left heart syndrome?
The series of three reconstructive operations to repair HLHS — the Norwood, Glenn and Fontan procedures — is known as " Staged Reconstruction ." Frequent surveillance in infancy and early childhood is important to minimize risk factors for the eventual Fontan operation.
Can HLHS resolve itself?
When an infant is diagnosed with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, there are few options for treatment. The size of the hole or gap can vary and itis possible that the defect might fix itself over time and naturally close.
Is HLHS curable?
For babies diagnosed prenatally, in a small number of cases, fetal intervention for HLHS may be beneficial for babies with a restrictive atrial septal defect. These treatments are not a "cure," however, and children with HLHS will need expert medical attention for the rest of their lives.
Is HLHS a terminal?
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a severe form of congenital heart disease which is always fatal without treatment. Though it has a wide spectrum of structural variations, it usually presents with symptoms in the first to third days of life.
What is the survival rate for the Norwood procedure?
Worldwide leaders in Norwood procedure survival The Norwood operation is the most complicated of the three single-ventricle treatment surgeries to correct single ventricle heart defects and the most risky. Currently, most major pediatric heart centers offer a survival rate of 75 percent or more.
Is hypoplastic left heart syndrome rare?
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a rare disorder that affects males (67 percent) more often than females. The estimated prevalence of the disorder is 1 in 100,000 live births.
How long does a Fontan last?
Patients with an AP Fontan experience survival of 76% at 25 years. Technical modifications have further improved survival. Patients with hypoplastic left heart syndrome are at higher risk of failure.
How much does HLHS surgery cost?
Of the treatment options for HLHS, cardiac transplantation, either as primary or as rescue therapy, is associated with the highest use of resources. The LOS is around 87 days with costs of almost $3,000,000 and charges of $580,000, making cardiac transplantation the most expensive option.