Hypoplastic left heart syndrome in context

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is a rare condition requiring major cardiac surgery during the neonatal period to sustain life, with subsequent procedures culminating in completion of the Fontan circulation - the common pathway for all 'single ventricle' conditions. Algorithms for care of these children are now well defined with predictable medium-term outcomes with the majority achieving a Fontan circulation. Hypoplastic left heart syndrome is one of a group of conditions that require complex surgery as a neonate and require a similar perioperative approach. Antenatal diagnosis is common in this patient subgroup, and there is a significant body of work that can be drawn on to inform parental choice.