Staged reconstruction surgeries and fetal interventions in Hypoplastic Right Heart Syndrome and Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome – When are these surgeries done and How many actually undergo these surgeries?

Abstract

Objectives

Hypoplastic right heart syndrome and Hypoplastic left heart syndrome are congenital heart diseases affecting the right and left side of the heart respectively. 3 procedures are performed for the staged reconstruction surgeries for these syndromes: Norwood, Glenn, Fontan. Fetal cardiac interventions in the form of fetal aortic balloon valvuloplasty and fetal pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty are available. In this study I analyze the ages at which the patients undergo such surgeries and how many patients undergo these surgeries.

Methods

A google survey form was prepared with questions on the reconstruction heart surgeries where participants were asked on the diagnosis, number of surgeries undergone, the age at which patients underwent such surgeries, and whether they were offered the option of Fetal intervention and if they did undergo Fetal Intervention.

Results

A total of 28 responses were received of which 22 were for HLHS while 6 were for HRHS. It was found that out of all the responses only 1 response stated that fetal intervention was done while 3 responses stated that they did receive the option for fetal intervention. Another observation which was noted is that all but one participant stated that one more reconstruction surgeries were done. A lot of these surgeries were performed within the time frame in which doctors recommend doing these surgeries.

Conclusions

Staged reconstruction surgeries are widely known today but it’s more difficult counterpart , Fetal Intervention is much more rare which has lead to doctors not suggesting this procedure.