Critically Underdeveloped Left Heart Morphology Associated with Prematurity and Low Birth Weight: Conditional Staged Rehabilitation Towards Biventricular Repair and Time-Related Growth of Left Heart Structures

Pediatr Cardiol. 2017 Oct;38(7):1519-1521. doi: 10.1007/s00246-017-1644-3. Epub 2017 Jun 7.

Abstract

This is a case report of premature low birth weight infant with hypoplasia of left heart structures and a large malaligned VSD who underwent successful staged approach of biventricular repair. We obtained qualitative and quantitative echocardiographic, MRI, and conventional catheterization data to support stepwise strategy towards LV rehabilitation to sustain adequate cardiac output. A thorough and intense follow-up has shown significant growth of left heart structures and favorable clinical status following staged biventricular repair. Our data indicate usefulness of qualitative and quantitative advanced complimentary multi-imaging modalities in predicting the postnatal growth potential of critically underdeveloped left heart structures.

Keywords: Congenital; Hypoplastic left ventricle; Volumetric analysis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Cardiac Catheterization / methods
  • Echocardiography / methods
  • Female
  • Fontan Procedure / methods*
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Heart Ventricles / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / diagnostic imaging
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / physiopathology*
  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome / surgery
  • Infant
  • Infant, Low Birth Weight
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine / methods
  • Retrospective Studies