Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: successful palliation with a new operation.

A new operative procedure is described for the palliation of hypoplastic left heart syndrome. The operation consists of anastomosis of a tubular prosthesis between the proximal pulmonary artery and the aortic arch. A calibrated opening in the graft is brought into continuity with the distal pulmonary artery to provide balanced pulmonary and systemic blood flow. The atrial septum is excised and the ductus arteriosus ligated. A successful case report documents that this operation satisfies criteria required to reverse heart failure in infants with hypoplastic left heart syndrome.