Hypoplastic left heart syndrome with intact atrial septum: Utilization of a hybrid catheterization facility for cesarean section delivery and prompt neonatal intervention.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS) with intact atrial septum (IAS) is a severe congenital cardiac malformation with little possibility of postnatal survival, unless an intra-atrial connection is created promptly after delivery. The timing of that intervention is often dictated by logistic restrictions, such as the proximity of the delivery room to the cardiac catheterization laboratory. This report details the use of a hybrid cardiac catheterization suite to expedite the delivery, transfer, and initial treatment of a fetus with HLHS/IAS. The mother underwent cesarean delivery in one hybrid room, and the newborn infant was transferred directly into an adjoining room where successful atrial septal stenting was performed without delay via a percutaneous, transhepatic approach. Copyright 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.