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Left Atrial Ligation in the Avian Embryo as a Model for Altered Hemodynamic Loading During Early Vascular Development
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Clinical outcomes and secondary diagnoses for infants born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome

Jean Anne Connor1, Raymond R Arons, Mayte Figueroa

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. jean.connor@cardio.chboston.org

Pediatrics
|August 3, 2004
PubMed

Insights

Infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) treated without surgery had worse outcomes. Non-children's hospitals and smaller facilities were associated with higher mortality for HLHS patients not receiving surgical intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Cardiology
  • Congenital Heart Disease
  • Healthcare Outcomes Research

Background:

  • Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) is a severe congenital heart defect requiring complex management.
  • Understanding clinical outcomes and secondary diagnoses is crucial for improving care for infants with HLHS.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze clinical outcomes and secondary diagnoses at discharge for infants with HLHS on a national level.
  • To identify factors associated with treatment choices and survival in HLHS patients.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized the 1997 Kids Inpatient Database for infant hospitalizations (< or =30 days) with HLHS.
  • Classified treatments using ICD-9-CM codes: surgical intervention (Norwood procedure, heart transplantation) vs. no surgery.
  • Identified and stratified secondary diagnoses at discharge by treatment type.

Main Results:

  • Of 550 HLHS patients, 234 had Norwood, 17 heart transplant, and 106 died without surgery.
  • Mortality without surgery was higher in small or non-children's hospitals (OR 1.5-2.02).
  • Cardiac arrest and seizures were more frequent in heart transplant recipients than Norwood procedure patients.

Conclusions:

  • National data from 1997 indicate improved initial survival rates post-intervention for HLHS.
  • Findings highlight the importance of hospital characteristics and secondary diagnoses in HLHS outcomes.
  • Results can inform current strategies for medical and surgical management of HLHS.
Abstract

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