[Advances in the surgical treatment of hypoplastic left-heart syndrome]

Hypoplastic left-heart syndrome is a congenital heart malformation that is classified as a univentricular disorder (hearts with only one functioning ventricle). Treatment was first developed in 1977, but a marked improvement in survival was not seen until the last decade. This was due primarily to a better understanding of how to surgically and medically manipulate the balance between pulmonary and systemic circulation. Special attention should be given to cerebral protection before, during and after surgery and to the follow-up of neurocognitive behaviour.