An operation for the hypoplastic left heart syndrome: preliminary report.

A successful first-stage operation for physiological correction of hypoplastic left heart syndrome is reported. This consists of creating a proximal communication between the pulmonary artery and the aorta while perfusing the lungs through a 3 mm orifice in a flap of pulmonary artery wall. The flap is turned in to partition the main pulmonary artery. We believe this operation has more potential for subsequent correction using the Fontan approach than previously reported first-stage procedures. Thus, further trial is indicated in selected patients.