Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
OB / NewbornCardiacPediatricshigh priorityneeds review
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome
Also testable as: HLHS, Hypoplastic left heart
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Critical congenital heart defect where left-sided heart structures do not form adequately.
- The left heart cannot pump oxygenated blood to the body; systemic perfusion depends on fetal shunts such as PDA until intervention.
Medications
No specific medication class was seeded for this card.
Nursing actions
- Assess cyanosis, poor feeding, tachypnea, weak pulses, lethargy, shock signs, and oxygen saturation differences.
- Maintain prostaglandin infusion pathway if ordered to keep ductus arteriosus open and monitor for apnea.
- Prepare for neonatal cardiac stabilization and staged surgical planning.
Complications
- Cardiogenic shock
- Metabolic acidosis
- Organ hypoperfusion
- Death without intervention
NCLEX cues
- Critical congenital heart disease screen failure.
- Cyanosis/shock as PDA closes.
- Prostaglandin keeps ductus open but watch apnea.
Memory hooks
- HLHS needs the ductus for body blood flow.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Pulse oximetry screen
- Echocardiogram
- ABG/metabolic status
- Glucose and perfusion trends
Review notes
- Supplemental wife-requested study card. Use for NCLEX review only and verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy.