While a baby cannot literally have half of a heart, babies can be born with conditions where one side of the heart is severely underdeveloped, effectively meaning it doesn't function properly.
One prominent example is Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS).
Understanding Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS)
In HLHS, the left side of the heart, including the left ventricle, mitral valve, aortic valve, and aorta, is significantly underdeveloped. This means the left side is too small to effectively pump blood to the body.
How HLHS Affects Blood Flow
Because the left side is unable to function adequately, the right ventricle takes over the crucial role of pumping blood to both the lungs and the rest of the body. According to provided information, In a baby with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, the heart's left side is too small to pump enough blood to the rest of the body. Their right ventricle or right lower chamber of their heart then takes over to pump blood to both their lungs and whole body.
Implications of HLHS
- Compromised Blood Circulation: The single ventricle (right ventricle) works harder to compensate, but it may not be able to meet the body's demands long-term without intervention.
- Surgical Intervention Required: Babies with HLHS require a series of complex surgeries to redirect blood flow and allow them to survive.
- Life-Long Management: Even with surgery, individuals with HLHS need ongoing medical care and monitoring.
Analogy
Think of it like a two-engine plane where one engine is broken. The other engine has to work twice as hard to keep the plane flying. While it can work for a while, it will be put under considerable strain and can potentially cause other issues down the line. Similarly, in HLHS, the right ventricle takes on the workload of both ventricles.
