Hypoplastic left heart

Alternative names:

hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Symptoms:

• lethargic infant
• poor feeding
• shortness of breath
• bluish or poor skin color

Signs and tests:

Physical examination may show signs of congestive heart failure, including hepatomegaly (liver enlargement, in this case related to congestion of the liver with blood that does not circulate adequately). The pulse when felt at various locations (wrist, groin, and others) may feel weak.

Tests:

• An ECG shows right ventricular hypertrophy (enlargement of the right ventricle of the heart).
• An X-ray of the chest shows heart enlargement.
• An echocardiogram defines the hypoplastic left ventricle.