HLHS
Medical abbreviation · Cardiology
| Stands for | Hypoplastic left heart syndrome |
|---|---|
| Categories | Medical |
HLHS stands for Hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a cardiology abbreviation.
Severe congenital defect in which the left ventricle, mitral valve, aortic valve and ascending aorta are underdeveloped, leaving the right ventricle to support the whole circulation. Without intervention it is fatal in the first weeks of life, once the ductus arteriosus closes.
Example: Prenatal echo at 20 weeks shows HLHS; family counseled on staged single-ventricle palliation.
Usage notes
Treatment is a three-stage palliation: the Norwood procedure in the first week, the bidirectional Glenn at about 4 to 6 months, and the Fontan at around 2 to 4 years; heart transplantation is an alternative. The Norwood operation, developed by William Norwood in the early 1980s, transformed a once uniformly fatal diagnosis. Fetal echocardiography now detects many cases before birth.
Related abbreviations
More cardiology abbreviations
- HFimpEF – Heart failure with improved ejection fraction
- HFmrEF – Heart failure with mildly reduced ejection fraction
- HFpEF – Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction
- HFrEF – Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction
- HHD – Hypertensive heart disease
- HLD – Hyperlipidemia
- HOCM – Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
- HRS – Heart Rhythm Society
- hs-cTn – High-sensitivity cardiac troponin
- HTN – Hypertension
- IABP – Intra-aortic balloon pump
- ICD – Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.