Table of Contents
- Overview
- Symptoms
- Treatment
- Prevention
- Images
HLHS
Symptoms
At first, a newborn with hypoplastic left heart may appear normal. Symptoms usually occur in the first few hours of life, although it may take up to a few days to develop symptoms. These symptoms may include:
- Bluish (cyanosis) or poor skin color
- Cold hands and feet (extremities)
- Lethargy
- Poor pulse
Poor suckling and feeding - Pounding heart
- Rapid breathing
- Shortness of breath
In healthy newborns, bluish color in the hands and feet is a response to cold (this reaction is called peripheral cyanosis).
However, a bluish color in the chest or abdomen, lips, and tongue is abnormal (called central cyanosis). It is a sign that there is not enough oxygen in the blood. Central cyanosis often increases with crying.
Signs and tests
A physical exam may show signs of heart failure:
- Faster than normal heart rate
- Lethargy
- Liver enlargement
- Rapid breathing
Also, the pulse at various locations (wrist, groin, and others) may be very weak. There are usually (but not always) abnormal heart sounds when listening to the chest.
Tests may include:
- Cardiac catheterization
- ECG
- Echocardiogram
- X-ray of the chest
Previous Section
Review Date: 12/21/2009
Reviewed By: Kurt R. Schumacher, MD, Pediatric Cardiology, University of
Michigan Congenital Heart Center, Ann Arbor, MI. Review provided by
VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA,
Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.
A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)
